Handmade goldfish scooping ideas: How to make goldfish and scoops (poi)
Goldfish scooping is a classic feature of summer festivals.
Haven’t you tried it at least once?
In this article, we’ll introduce DIY ideas for goldfish scooping.
Since you can make them with construction paper, origami, or recycled materials, it’s perfect for indoor fun, and even children who can’t scoop real goldfish can play.
They’re also great for pretend festivals at daycare or kindergarten.
Some goldfish can even float on water, so you can enjoy them in your bathtub at home.
If you want an easy way to enjoy goldfish scooping, give these a try!
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Handmade ideas for goldfish scooping: How to make goldfish and scoops (1–10)
Goldfish made from bottle caps & a scooper made from a plastic bottle
Great for summer festivals, too! Here are some ideas for making goldfish from plastic bottle caps and a scooper (poi) from a plastic bottle.
By using colored plastic bags, you can create uniquely colorful and cute goldfish! What you’ll need: plastic bottle caps, vinyl tape, rubber bands, colored plastic bags, round stickers, a plastic bottle, cloth duct tape, and clear tape.
The goldfish are made by wrapping plastic bottle caps with colored plastic bags, and the scooper is made by cutting a plastic bottle.
Give it a try!
Origami Goldfish & Cardboard Poi (scooper)
@hoikushi_bank [Summer Festival Game Part 2] Goldfish ScoopingSupport for childcare workers#Production Video#Production videoIdeas for childcare#HandmadeToys
♬ Natsumatsuri – Whiteberry
Three-dimensional goldfish are so cute! Here are ideas for origami goldfish and a cardboard scooper (poi).
Wouldn’t it be fun to recreate a goldfish scooping game using everyday materials? This time, let’s try making a goldfish scooping setup with origami and cardboard.
The origami goldfish have a charmingly plump, rounded, 3D shape! For the poi, cut out a ring from cardboard and wrap it with vinyl tape to make it colorful.
Holding the event in a mini pool or on a blue tarp will make it feel even more realistic!
Sponge goldfish & disposable chopstick net scoop
Have fun making your own! Here are ideas for sponge goldfish and a scoop made with a chopstick net.
Aren’t there many kids who’d love to make their own goldfish scooping game? It could be fun for teachers or parents to just prepare the materials and let the children freely create and play.
It looks like an activity that will nurture kids’ creativity and imagination.
Taking turns to play with the finished goldfish scooping sets could also be a unique activity.
As a special summertime memory, be sure to give it a try!
Handmade goldfish scooping ideas: How to make goldfish and scoops (11–20)
Origami goldfish & paper-carton scooper
Enjoy an easy goldfish scooping game! Here are ideas for origami goldfish and a paper-carton poi (scooper).
These goldfish scooping ideas can be made with items you already have at home or in a classroom.
You’ll need origami paper, a milk carton, parchment (cooking) paper, scissors, a permanent marker, glue, clear tape, and some cups.
The poi looks just like the real thing by sandwiching parchment paper between cut-out pieces of the milk carton.
You can just picture how excited the kids will be! Give it a try.
Goldfish and scoops made from milk cartons
Here’s a craft idea where you make both goldfish and a scoop (poi) using milk cartons.
Because the goldfish are simply cut out of the carton into fish shapes, the original design is crucial—choosing which carton to use can be part of the fun.
The poi is also simple: just roll up thin strips of the carton and add a handle, so anyone can easily create a goldfish scooping game.
What you stick inside the ring is another key point: using thin washi paper makes it feel like authentic goldfish scooping, while a mesh strainer bag lets kids focus on the scooping motion.
You can also adjust the difficulty by making the poi harder to hold or changing the weight of the goldfish.
Goldfish candy & paper-cup scooper
Goldfish scooping that uses candy as pretend goldfish is colorful to look at and fun, don’t you think? It’s easy for anyone to make: just wrap each candy in its own small bag and draw eyes and fins on the bag, and you’re done.
Plus, the fact that kids can eat the candies they scoop is sure to get them excited.
The goldfish “pool” can also be made easily with familiar materials like cardboard, which is another nice point.
This is a craft idea I recommend for recreation.
Poi made from an empty snack box
Let’s play using scrap materials! Here’s an idea for making a poi scoop using an empty snack box.
How about using the plastic lid that comes with snacks as a makeshift poi? Float decorative balls or beads in a bowl and scoop them up with the lid-turned-poi! It can help nurture children’s concentration and teach control of strength.
If you want to make the poi sturdier, wrap it all around with vinyl tape to increase its durability.
Give it a try!