Octopus Paper Plate Craft

Looking for a fun and easy craft to explore the ocean with your kid? This Octopus Paper Plate Craft is the perfect way to get creative. With just a few simple supplies, your child can turn an ordinary paper plate into a bright octopus, complete with wiggly tentacles ready to explore the ocean.

Check out my list of fun ocean activities for kids to have even more fun with these creatures.

Each octopus craft can be uniquely decorated with bright colors, patterns, and even fun accessories, making it feel like a real underwater friend. As your kids get into this project, they’ll enjoy the hands-on fun and discover fascinating facts about these incredible sea creatures. So gather your supplies and get ready for an ocean of creativity.

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Fun Octopus Facts

Octopuses are fascinating creatures with wildly unique features. These ocean dwellers have a unique appearance and special adaptations that make them stand out in the sea. Let’s take a look at some of them:

• Three Hearts – Did you know that octopuses have three hearts? Two of them help pump blood to their gills so they can breathe, and the third one sends the blood all around their body. That’s a lot of love for one little creature.
• Blue Blood – Octopuses have blue blood instead of red, like us. This is because they use a unique protein to carry oxygen, which works better in the cold ocean waters where they live.
• Tool Users – Octopuses are super bright and have amazing abilities. They have been seen using coconut shells and rocks to protect themselves from predators. It’s like they have their own little toolbox in the ocean.

Reasons Why Your Kids Should Learn About Octopuses

Octopuses are amazing creatures that can teach kids so much about the ocean. When my kids and I started learning about them, we couldn’t believe how smart and resourceful they were. 

From how they squeeze into tiny spaces to how they use their arms to solve problems, octopuses show that the world is full of surprises. Exploring these creatures opens up conversations about marine life and how even the most unusual animals have their special place in nature.

Talking about octopuses also helps kids understand why the ocean is worth protecting. As we learned more, my kids started asking questions about what we could do to keep marine animals safe. 

It’s a great way to help them care about the environment and think about the bigger picture. Plus, it’s just fun to imagine what life would be like with eight arms.

How can we make this ocean craft more interactive?

Making this octopus paper plate craft more interactive can be as simple as pairing it with engaging Ocean Activity Mats. While your younger kids paint and assemble their octopus, they can also use these mats to learn fun facts about marine life or solve ocean-themed puzzles. It’s a great way to keep the ocean theme going while adding some learning to the fun.

I’ve found that combining crafts with activities like these keeps my kids excited and focused. After making their octopus using simple steps that also help develop fine motor skills, they loved creating their Blue Fluffy Slime for the whale theme activity. It was a great way to blend fun and learning. They really got into drawing sea animals and tracing shapes on the mats afterward. The whole experience felt seamless, and the mats sparked even more interesting conversations while we crafted and played with the slime.

Recommended Octopus Books

These octopus books are fantastic for learning about these amazing sea creatures. They introduce kids to cool facts about octopuses, from their incredible abilities to change color to their unique way of moving through the water. Reading these together can inspire a love for ocean exploration.

Violet the Hugging Octopus (Sea Yourself, Be Yourself)The Octopus Scientists (Scientists in the Field)Gentle Giant Octopus: Read and WonderGood Thing You’re Not an Octopus!The Benefits of Being an OctopusOctopus Escapes Again!

 

Recommended Octopus Toys

Toys are a fantastic way for kids to learn while having fun. When my children play, they’re not just filling their time; they’re discovering new things about the world around them. It’s incredible how much learning occurs through play, often without them even realizing it.

Octopus Wall Crawling Sticky Toys for Kids, 4 Pack, Soft and Flexible Squishy Walkers, Bright and Colorful Climbers, Washable and Reusable Stickiness, Birthday Party Favors and Easter Basket StuffersRavensburger Ocean Friends 35 Piece Jigsaw Puzzle for Kids – Every Piece is Unique, Pieces Fit Together PerfectlySafari Ltd. Octopus Figurine – Realistic 5Eco 3D Wooden Puzzle Octopus from Deluxebase. Animal Themed DIY 3D Puzzle Craft Kit. Sustainable Wood Ocean Animal Toys. Perfect Model Building Kits for Educational Toys and Kids Party FavorsOctopus Pool Toys for Kids Ages 3-4-5-6-7-8, Pool Floats Kids, 2-in-1 Inflatable Basketball Hoop & Hoop Game, Cool Spring and Summer Gifts for Boys and Girls TeenagersContinuum Games Tentacle Tantrum Fast-Paced Octopus Game of Matches and Squiddy Snatches | 2-6 Players, 20-Minute Play Time, Ages 3 and Up | Family Games for Kids and Adults

 

Fun Octopus Craft Supplies

Here is the list of materials needed for this wonderful ocean craft:

• Paper plates
• Acrylic paints
• Paintbrush
• Black marker or Sharpie
• Ruler
• Reinforcement stickers
• Bright colored paper
• Glue stick
• Googly eyes
• Scissors

How to make an octopus craft

We started by gathering all the colorful supplies, which excited everyone from the beginning.

As we painted the paper plate, giggles filled the air with everyone choosing their favorite colors. It was so fun to see their creativity come to life as they mixed and blended the paint, transforming a simple plate into a vibrant octopus body.

Once the plate dried, we moved on to cutting and decorating. I guided the kids as they drew wavy lines and cut them out, but they enjoyed taking the lead on adding googly eyes to the octopus head template. Seeing their faces light up as they gave their octopuses some personality was heartwarming.

Then we shifted gears to the legs, and they loved measuring and cutting out paper strips. The excitement in the room was contagious as they glued their legs onto the plate, eagerly anticipating how their octopuses would come together.

Finally, we added some fun details with stickers and markers. The kids couldn’t stop laughing as they curled their legs, making their octopuses look even more whimsical.

Watching their creativity unfold after the crafting was a joy. They even created underwater adventures and stories with their new octopus friends. It was a fantastic way to blend creativity, learning, and fun.

More Ocean Activities

There are so many fun ocean-themed activities to keep the excitement going. These activities let kids practice their creativity and help them learn more about the ocean’s wonders while having a blast.

• Ocean Animals Food Chain Printables
• Octopus Yarn Craft
• Parts of Ocean Animal Worksheets
• Shark Activity Pages
• Ocean Animal Matching Game by Homeschool Preschool
• Ocean Cutting Practice Pages by Simple Everyday Mom

This fun craft is a wonderful way for little octopus fans to express their creativity while learning about the fascinating world of octopuses. They’ll enjoy the hands-on experience and discover more about these incredible sea creatures as they paint, cut, and decorate.

Grab some paper plates and supplies today, and let the crafting adventure begin.