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[Childcare] Ocean-themed craft ideas! From wall displays to 3D projects

In summer, ocean-themed crafts are a common activity in childcare.

Ocean motifs feel refreshing and are perfect for the season.

Sea creatures like fish and crabs are fun for children to make.

However, finding age-appropriate ideas and new forms of expression can be challenging.

So, we’ve gathered a collection of ocean-themed craft ideas here.

You’ll find a variety of projects, from flat drawings to three-dimensional creations.

Please use these as a reference and enjoy a fun summer with the children! Note: Since the children’s creations are treated as works, the term “seisaku” (制作) is used in the text.

[Childcare] Ocean-themed craft ideas! From wall displays to 3D projects (41–50)

Curtain of the Sea

Let’s try making a cool, ocean-themed curtain using items like raffia ribbon.

Cut several strands of blue-toned raffia ribbon to match the width of your window.

Then freely attach paper cutouts shaped like sea creatures, origami sea animals, or drawings of the ocean that you’ve cut out.

You’ll end up with a piece that feels just like being under the sea or in an aquarium! If you let the children create their own sea creatures freely, they can enjoy the project without worrying much about age differences.

Milk carton mobile

Fun Mobiles: Let’s Make a Spinning Mobile from a Milk Carton! (Chigasaki Park Experiential Learning Center Umikaze Terrace)
Milk carton mobile

Fun to make, and fun to hang from the ceiling and enjoy! Here are some ideas for making a mobile out of milk cartons.

You’ll need three milk cartons, a 14 cm bamboo skewer or wire, thread, acrylic paint, and craft glue.

In this idea, the collaboration of the moon with a cat and fish makes for an amusing design! You can freely adapt it to suit the design you want to create—whether a cute or cool vibe, animals, or your favorite motifs—so feel free to use this as a reference.

Fish made of origami paper

[Kindergarten/Daycare] July Sea Fish Painting and Craft
Fish made of origami paper

Let’s make colorful fish out of origami! Prepare two sheets of origami paper in your favorite colors.

Cut one sheet with long, thin slits, and cut the other into long, thin strips.

Weave the strips through the slits to combine them.

Since this step is a bit tricky, it’s recommended that a teacher provides support.

For the fish’s background, prepare construction paper decorated with colors applied using a sponge dauber or with small pieces of cut origami paper glued on.

Once you combine the finished fish with the background, it’s complete! If you let the children freely choose their colors—starting with the origami color combinations—they’ll enjoy the rest of the craft even more.

ringed crown jellyfish

Let’s make a jellyfish using paper chains, like the ones you often see as birthday party decorations! First, make the jellyfish’s head using construction paper or a paper plate.

If you’re using a paper plate, you can paint it your favorite color.

Next, make paper chains using origami in colors you like.

It’s fun to mix different kinds, such as glittery origami or transparent origami.

Unlike party decorations, you don’t need to make the chains very long—just create several strands with about 4–5 links each.

Use these as the jellyfish’s tentacles and attach them to the head you made earlier—that’s it! If the teacher prepares thin, pre-cut strips of origami paper, all that’s left is for the kids to paste them into chains, making it an easy activity for them.

Sea creatures made with paper chain links

Ocean-themed wall decor with paper chain rings for summer #shorts
Sea creatures made with paper chain links

Let’s use paper chains like the ones you see at birthday parties to make sea creatures! You can create animals using only paper chains, or use them as parts of your creations.

When used as parts, they can become the tentacles of octopuses, squids, or jellyfish, seaweed, or even fish scales.

By getting creative with how you link the loops, you can make starfish or shells using just paper chains, too.

Depending on the age group, it’s also a great idea to have the children help make the chains.