Have some pet theme fun and help kids imagine what type of pet fish they’d like to have with this creative My Pet Fish art project for kids.
Many children often hope, ask, and sometimes plead for a pet of their own. They love the idea of playing with a puppy, cuddling with a kitten, or feeding the fish. Unfortunately many children today don’t have the chance to care for a pet for a variety of reasons including monetary concerns, family allergies, and/or small living spaces.
All children can experience having a pet by crafting a pet of their own! Today we’ll be making My Pet Fish using cardboard, paint, yarn, and more! Your child will also identify a specific type of fish, pick a name, list ways to care for the fish, and package it in a unique home. So gather up the kids and let them know we’re heading to the pet store!
My Pet Fish Art Project for Kids
GET A FULL WEEK OF PET THEME LESSON PLANS YOUR PRESCHOOL CLASSROOM
Fine Motor Skills
Your child’s fine motor skills will get a real workout throughout the process of creating this craft. Through drawing, painting, cutting, wrapping, threading, and even writing. Some of the steps may need parental assistance such as cutting the cardboard, threading the beads, and writing the information on the tag. As a result, the project can be a collaborative one between you and your child. For additional practice give this similar project from Fantastic Fun and Learning a try!
Before beginning this pet fish art project let’s brainstorm possible types of fish to create. Many children are familiar with a clownfish and a blue tang from the movies Finding Nemo and Finding Dory. This could add a fun cinematic connection to the craft. I’ve also noticed that many children are very enthusiastic and eager to create a pet shark. Still others may wish to create a fish as yet to be discovered! These pet fish are often the most creative and unique yet!
Materials:
- Cardboard
- Tempera Paint
- Yarn
- Tape
- Beads
- Construction paper
- Plastic Sandwich Bag
- Glue stick
Step By Step:
1. Make a Fish:
Use a piece of cardboard or cereal box to create a fish. Draw the fish using a variety of circles, ovals, and triangles and cut it out. Paint with tempera paint. If you wish to create a realistic fish having photos at hand will be helpful.
2. Wrap it Up:
After the paint dries, cut a piece of yarn and tape one end to the back of the fish. Thread a few beads through the yarn and begin wrapping the yarn around the fish. As a result, the yarn and beads will overlap with one another and add beautiful scales to the fish.
3. Package your Pet:
Put the fish into the bag and cut a piece of blue paper to represent the sea and insert it into the bag. Now your fish is in its home. Next, cut a piece of construction paper into a square and fold it in half. Print a tag from your computer that includes the name of the craft – MY PET FISH, and the prompts NAME, TYPE, and CARE. Print and cut it out. Attach it to the folded piece of construction paper. Finally, your child can now fill in the My Pet Fish information.
Click here to download a free printable tag for your pet fish art.
Art and Literacy
One of my favorite children’s books is called Children Make Terrible Pets by Peter Brown. This comical tale flips the script on pets and people. It highlights pet care, empathy, responsibility, and can even spark debates about keeping pets in the wild versus domesticating pets.
I hope your child enjoys this pet art project. It’s sure to spark conversation about pet care and companionship.
Be sure to tag @fantasticfunandlearning and @youngschoolartwithmr.g on Instagram so we can see your creations!
CONNECT WITH VIN GIANNETTO
Learn more about Vin here on his author bio page. Follow along with him on Facebook at Young School Art with Mr. Giannetto and on Instagram @youngschoolartwithmr.g for art project ideas.
MORE ART AND CRAFT PROJECT IDEAS FROM VIN
Creative Ways to Paint with Carrots
Build a Flower with Air Dry Clay
Decorate a Tree Loose Parts Play
Paper Sculpture Relief Ocean Craft
Recycled Art for Kids: Boats in the Sea
Printing Fall Leaves Art Project for Kids
Halloween Art for Kids: Flip the Painting Process
Tinfoil Process Art Christmas Ornaments
GET A FULL WEEK OF PET THEME LEARNING AND PLAY
Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.
This set includes active hands-on learning ideas and the following printables:
1) Small Pets Number Cards (0-35)-4 sets with different animal options for math and calendar activities.
2) Large Pets Number Cards (1-10)
3) Pet Picture Cards
4) Pet Picture and Word Cards
5) Pet or Wild Animal Sorting Mat and Cards
6) Pet Letter Puzzles
7) Pet Roll and Graph Mats and Cubes (2 versions in both color and black and white)
8) I Have a Pet Emergent Reader (3 versions)
9) Feed Your Pet Math Game (3 game boards in color and black and white, 6 game cube variations for differentiation)
10) Sight Word Squawk Word Cards
11) Pet Theme Color Matching Activity Mats and Game Pieces
12) Beginning Sound Sort (/a/, /p/, /e/, /t/)
13) Shape Pet Food Sorting Mats
GET YOUR LESSON PLANS
Also available on Teachers Pay Teachers
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