Sea Turtle Crafts for Preschoolers

I love finding meaningful and engaging crafts, and Sea Turtle Crafts for Preschoolers hits the sweet spot. Sea turtles have always fascinated my kids, and these crafts gave us a chance to learn while having a hands-on experience. It became more than just a craft afternoon; it became a learning moment we still discuss.

Here is a list of cool sea turtle activities for kids – there are science lessons, games, and more crafts. It made planning much easier since I didn’t have to start from scratch.

Here are some of our favorite sea turtle projects, and I hope they give you a handful of fresh ideas, too. Whether you’re working with glue or clay, keep reading for simple, creative ways to explore these amazing creatures with your kids.

This post may contain affiliate links meaning I get commissions for purchases made through links in this post. Read my disclosure policy here.

Surprising Facts About Sea Turtles

1. Sea turtles can hold their breath for up to five hours, depending on their activity level. I was shocked to learn that they slow their heart rate to just one beat every nine minutes while resting.
2. Only one in a thousand sea turtle hatchlings makes it to adulthood. That stat stuck with my oldest, and it helped explain why so many organizations work hard to protect them.
3. They have been around since the time of the dinosaurs. My kids thought that was “cooler than T-Rex,” and it instantly gave the crafts more weight in their minds.

Recommended Sea Turtle Books

We always pair crafts with a few good reads. Books about sea turtles help set the scene, build vocabulary, and answer the nonstop questions that tend to pop up while we’re crafting.

Sea Turtles!: A My Incredible World Picture Book for Children (My Incredible World: Nature and Animal Picture Books for Children)Sheldon the Sea Turtle’s Big Ocean AdventureSea Turtles (New & Updated)The Box TurtleAll About Animals – Sea TurtleGo Wild! Sea Turtles

 

Why is learning about sea turtles important?

Sea turtles give us a clear, real-world way to talk about ocean conservation. They live long lives, face serious threats, and need clean environments to survive. When my kids see photos of turtles tangled in plastic, it clicks: their choices matter, even at a young age.

There’s also a natural curiosity about animals that live so differently than we do. Sea turtles are reptiles that lay eggs and swim thousands of miles—a great starting point for geography, biology, and empathy. I see the gears turning whenever we add one of these animals to our studies.

My Recommended Ocean Printables

I created a couple of ocean-themed printable packs that work perfectly alongside these turtle crafts. They’re simple to use and offer math and science content that extends the theme naturally.

What You’ll Need for These Sea Turtle Crafts

The good news? You probably have most of what you need already:

• Paper plates
• Glue
• Scissors
• Construction paper
• Paint
• Rocks
• Bottle tops
• Recyclables like egg cartons or old CDs
• Googly eyes (optional)
• Twine (optional)
• Clay (optional)

Recommended Ocean Animal Toys That Keep the Fun Going

If you’re like me and your kids love tactile learning, ocean animal toys are a great follow-up. They give us a chance to keep exploring marine life long after the crafts are done.

Safari Ltd Ocean TOOB Comes With 12 Different Hand Painted Animal Toy Figurine Models Including Sea Lion, Eagle Ray, Starfish, Turtle, Penguin, Octopus, Humpback Whale, Sperm Whale, Moray Eel, Hammerhead Shark, Tiger Shark, and Dolphin For Ages 5 and UpShark Toys Figures,Large Ocean Animals Toys,Realistic Design Shark ReplicaMONILON Water Beads, 24 Pcs Ocean Sea Animals Tactile Sensory Play Kids Toys for Boys Girls, Water Gel Soft Beads Growing Jelly Balls for Spa Refill, Pool & Decor-Inflatable Water Mat IncludePLAYMOBIL Aquarium Building SetNATIONAL GEOGRAPHIC Ultimate Ocean Play Sand – 2 LBS of Sand, 6 Molds, 6 Figures and Activity TrayCubicFun-National Geographic Ocean Puzzle Educational Toys with Bookelts,Undersea Adventure DS0974h

 

More Sea Turtle Activities To Try

There are plenty of ways to expand your sea turtle exploration beyond crafts. We like using sensory bins, ocean-themed books, and simple science projects to stretch the topic over several days.

• Sea Turtle Coloring Pages
• Sea Turtle Activities for Kindergarten
• Sea Turtle Books for Preschoolers
• Label the Sea Turtle by Homeschool Preschool
• 19 Best Turtle Games for Preschoolers by Homeschool of 1

Crafting together is more than just busywork. With these sea turtle projects, we got to create, ask questions, and learn in a fun way. I hope they bring the same kind of connection and fun to your home.