F is for fish. And a fun way to teach that concept is to create an adorable and recognizable fish from a couple of paper plates. Also, I have more alphabet letter fun on my page How to Homeschool Preschool.
There are a couple of fish that are just iconic and well known because they are true movie stars.
For example, one is a clown fish and the other a blue tang with short term memory loss (maybe).
Those movies have taught kids so much about life under the ocean and so much more so I thought that they would make a wonderful subject for our F is for fish craft.
Your child can make their fish any make-believe fantasy species they like, or you can challenge them to choose a favorite type of ocean fish and recreate it.
There are so many beautiful options out there, especially saltwater fish.
First, look at these books about the ocean and the animals that live in it.
Kid’s Books About the Ocean and Animals
16 Ocean Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To
Choose a few of these ocean themed books to go along with your study of the Oceans. Whether you're looking for a spine for a unit study or literature, you'll love this roundup.
Join Danny Meadow Mouse, Jimmy Skunk, and Reddy Fox as they explore the seashore and take a closer look at the habits and habitats of the creatures they find. Discover the Seahorse, Shrimp, Crab, Anemone, Gull, and so many more.
The Burgess Seashore Book for Children is a wonderful way to introduce young ones to the fascinating world beneath us and is a perfect compliment to earlier books in this series, the Bird, Animal, and Flower books.
This edition is complete and unabridged with all of the beautiful illustrations by W.H. Southwick and George Sutton
Seaside Naturalist is an illustrated guide to marine plants and animals includes the characteristics of protozoa, arthropods, sponges, mollusks, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals.
The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the page.
Island of the Blue Dolphins begins with a young girl named Karana who is living on the Island of the Blue Dolphins (fancy name, right?) with her younger brother, Ramo, and sister, Ulape. One day, a group of Russian hunters (Aleutians) land on the island to hunt for otter. This is when the trouble really begins.
Once upon a time in France, a baby was born under the summer sun. His parents named him Jacques. As he grew, Jacques fell in love with the sea. He dreamed of breathing beneath the waves and swimming as gracefully as a fish. In fact, he longed to become a manfish. Jacques Cousteau grew up to become a champion of the seas and one of the best-known oceanographers in the world. In this lovely biography, now in paperback, poetic text and gorgeous paintings come together to create a portrait of Cousteau that is as magical as it is inspiring.
A beautiful edition with 110 images from the 1875 English edition. Use Amazon's Look inside feature to compare this edition with others. You'll be impressed by the differences. Don't be fooled by other versions that have no illustrations or contain very small print. Reading our edition will make you feel that you are traveling the seas with Captain Nemo himself.
More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.
An introduction by W. D. Howells.
Nicely formatted text in an easy-to-read font.
A beautiful cover from the 1891 edition.
Embark on a captivating tour of the waters that cover 70 percent of our planet! See our oceans come to life in mind-blowing detail. This is the ultimate children’s visual encyclopedia about the awe-inspiring blue planet!
How did a nineteenth-century dressmaker revolutionize science? Jeanne Power was creative: she wanted to learn about the creatures that swim beneath the ocean waves, so she built glass tanks and changed the way we study underwater life forever. Jeanne Power was groundbreaking: she solved mysteries of sea animals and published her findings at a time when few of women’s contributions to science were acknowledged. Jeanne Power was persistent: when records of her research were lost, she set to work repeating her studies. And when men tried to take credit for her achievements, she stood firm and insisted on the recognition due to her.
Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages.
Do you know a kid who’s captivated by what goes on beneath the ocean’s surface? This amazing entry into ocean books for kids is packed with hundreds of incredible facts for hours of underwater exploration. Pages of full-color pictures feature life in and around the sea including fish, dolphins, and shipwrecks!
Dive into the mesmerizing world of bioluminescence with "All About Bioluminescence." In this captivating book, readers embark on a journey through the depths of the ocean to discover the extraordinary glow-in-the-dark creatures that inhabit its mysterious realm. From the enchanting sea angel to the infamous anglerfish, each page is filled with stunning illustrations and fascinating facts about these luminous beings.With a focus on deep-sea dwellers, readers will uncover the secrets behind bioluminescence and learn how these creatures use light to communicate, camouflage, and lure prey. But the adventure doesn't stop there! "All About Bioluminescence" also includes hands-on activities like a glow stick experiment, allowing readers to experience the magic of bioluminescence firsthand.
One of the most enduringly popular adventure tales, Treasure Island began in 1881 as a serialized adventure entitled "The Sea-Cook"in the periodical Young Folks. Completed during a stay at Davos, Switzerland, where Stevenson had gone for his health, it was published in 1883 in the form we know today.Set in the eighteenth century, Treasure Island spins a heady tale of piracy, a mysterious treasure map, and a host of sinister characters charged with diabolical intentions. Seen through the eyes of Jim Hawkins, the cabin boy of the Hispaniola, the action-packed adventure tells of a perilous sea journey across the Spanish Main, a mutiny led by the infamous Long John Silver, and a lethal scramble for buried treasure on an exotic isle.
In Oceans and Seas! With 25 Science Projects for Kids readers ages 7 though 10 dive into the underwater world of some of the most amazing landscapes on Earth. On this amazing underwater adventure, kids experience the ocean’s tropical reefs and spot crabs, sea sponges, and thousands of kinds of fish darting in its crags and folds. They’ll meet a giant squid with eyes the size of dinner plates and an mbrella-like bioluminescent jellyfish.
From both a historical and scientific point of view, above and below the surface, this engaging guide brings the world’s oceans to life through fun facts, illustrations, and in-depth information. Interactive activities appear throughout, ranging from making solar stills and simple fishing spears to experimenting with a homemade diving bell and figuring out how much water it really takes to survive. With the oceans being the least explored environment on Earth, this reference illuminates some of the most incredible and surprising plants and animals as well as how to survive and navigate these vast expanses.
An intricate study of tide pool life is presented in text and pictures through the story of Pagoo, a her-mit crab.
Next, look at these facts about fish.
5 Fun Fish Facts for Preschoolers
- A large group of fish is called a ‘school’.
- Fish have vertebrae, which means that they have a backbone or a spine.
- They breathe with their gills, as the water flows over them they absorb the oxygen in it.
- Fish are cold blooded, and that means that their internal body temperature changes depending on the surrounding temperature.
- The starfish, jellyfish, and crayfish live in the water but lack a backbone, so they are not truly fish at all.
Just in case you want to turn it into a swimmingly full fish unit I have some ideas for each subject for you that can take it from a quick project to a week or longer deep sea dive!
Math
- This Fishing Math Game With Free Printables is a great way to practice number identification but fish can also be paired up for simple addition and subtraction, or even comparing numbers.
Science
- Make a simple Super Easy and Fun Aquarium Jar Craft For Summer Activities for a DIY “snow globe” project.
- Learn the science behind Magic Swimming Fish and amaze them with all the cool things you know how to do.
Language Arts
- You will appreciate that this sensory F is For Fish Craft is contained and not messy (just watch for holes in the bag!)
- Letter F-F is For Fish makes smart use of celery to create fish scales on the letter to make it resemble the slippery ocean dweller we are learning about.
Snacks
- Under The Sea Graham Crackers are too adorable to pass up and will be so inviting for your child at snack time.
- These Funny Fish Waffles just melted my heart with how precious they are, a great way to start the day.
- Ocean Punch using Swedish fish looks swimmingly refreshing doesn’t it?
More How to Homeschool Preschool Letter of the Week Activities
- How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish
- P Is For Pineapple Craft | How To Make A Fun Handprint Pineapple
- Alphabet Letter A is for Apple Craft for Preschool | Fun Apple Study
- Letter O is for Owl Preschool Craft | Fun Great Horned Owl Study
- Alphabet Letter H Handprint Craft For Fun Preschool Horse Study
- How To Make An Alphabet Teeth Cleaning Activity | 5 Preschool Letter T Crafts
- Alphabet Letter R is for Rainbow Craft for Preschool | Fun Rain Mobile
- Alphabet Letter M is for Monkey Handprint Preschool Fun Monkey Study
- Alphabet Letter G is for Gorilla Fun Paper Plate Preschool Mask
- W Is For Winter Craft Easy Snowman Oobleck Activity
- Letter E Is For Eagle Easy Preschool Eagle Study
- Alphabet Letter N Is For Nest Handprint & Fun Nests Preschool Craft
- B is for Bird Craft | Free Preschool Bluebird Study
- X is for X Ray Craft | Unique Crayon Resist Skeleton
Finally, look how to make this F is for fish adorable craft.
How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish
You will need:
- 2 paper plates
- Craft paint
- paintbrushes
- Scissors
- Glue
First, cut a fishtail from the center and the edge of one paper plate, it helps to use a book or Google an image of the fish that you’re making to use as inspiration.
Have your child paint one entire paper plate the base color of whatever fish you choose.
For a blue tang like I did here you want a pretty deep blue.
And then the tail whatever color (yellow here). Set aside to dry.
When the paint is dry you can begin to shape the paper plate a bit with scissors to create a little bit more pointed side for the face and give a little shape to the back end as well.
Use black paint and a small paintbrush (or a paint pen) to add your tang details like an eye and the thick black line that goes around it and runs to the end.
Add a little black detail to the edges of the tail as well and don’t forget to give him a little fin for swimming.
Glue the tail to the backside of the plate and let the glue dry.
Feel free to make an entire ocean of fish as you enjoy your fish journey with your child.
