Whether you’re searching for cute preschool activities for the classroom or fun summer art projects to make at home, you can’t go wrong with simple crafts for kids! And when it comes to awesome DIY ideas, it doesn’t get much better than this paper plate shark craft. All you need are a few simple supplies to put this easy project together with your kids right now.

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You won’t believe how quick and easy this paper plate shark is to make! That means it’s perfect for kids of any age to make!

Since you just need a handful of simple craft supplies to put it together, I bet you already have everything you need at home right now! What better way to keep your kids entertained when you’re tired of hearing them say I’m bored?

Paper Plate Shark Craft

This adorable paper plate craft is so easy to make, it can be put together with just a few minutes of prep work. That means it’s perfect for a summer afternoon! And since it’s so simple, all your kids can get in on the fun, no matter how old they are!

The short list of supplies needed to put this easy art project together is the best part about this beach craft! But it’s also super easy to customize, so don’t forget to keep scrolling to the bottom of the post to get more ideas for making this project with your kids.

Paper plates. You can use any size paper plate you want to make your own sharks. We used small 6-inch plates because that’s what we had on hand, but full-sized plates would also work!
Blue paint. I thought blue would be a fun color for our sharks, but if you want to make yours look more life-like, you could also use grey paint for this craft.
Blue and white construction paper. To make the fins and teeth for your shark craft, you’ll also need some blue and white paper. Construction paper is a great option. Or you could use colored cardstock to make these elements of the craft project.
Googly eyes. I love these googly eye stickers when making crafts with preschoolers, but you can also use regular googly eyes that need to be glued on when making your own sharks.
Scissors and glue. To transform your paper plate into a shark, you’ll need to do some cutting and gluing. Any type of glue will work for this project, including regular white school glue or glue sticks.

How to Make a Paper Plate Shark

Now that you have all your supplies gathered up, it’s time to get crafty! Have some fun with your kids making your own shark craft at home this summer.

Before you can start putting your paper plate shark together, your kids will need to have some fun painting their paper plates. Make sure to cover your work area well, then let your kids paint their plates blue (or gray). You may need to add a second coat to fully cover the plate with paint.

After giving the paint on your paper plate plenty of time to dry, grab your scissors and cut out a small wedge from the side of your plate. This will be your shark’s mouth.

Next, grab your blue construction paper and cut out one circle and one triangle.

paper plate and construction paper shark

Cut the circle in half to make two wedges.

Then, flip the paper plate over and attach your fin and tail. The triangle will be the shark’s fin, which goes on the top of the plate. Then, glue the two wedges to the back of the plate opposite the shark’s mouth to form the tail. Start by flipping wedge upside down so that the rounded sides are facing each other, then overlap the ends of each wedge to make a tail shape.

After that, all that’s left to do is add the shark’s teeth. Cut out several small triangles from a piece of white construction paper or cardstock. You don’t have to make these exact, just try to keep them similar in size.

Then, glue the teeth to each side of the mouth, attaching them to the back of the plate.

Once you have all the teeth glued on, attach two googly eyes above the mouth to finish making your own paper plate sharks at home!

Paper Plate Shark Craft Ideas

See how simple it is to make your own shark out of a paper plate? Your kids are going to have a blast making their own sea creatures with supplies you have at home!

And since this ocean themed craft is so simple to make, it’s also easy to customize! Try these craft ideas as you’re putting your own art project together to create some adorable sharks with your kids this summer.

Color the plate with markers or crayons. If you want to skip using messy paint, don’t worry! You can still make this cute shark. Instead of having your kids paint the plate, just tell them to color the paint with markers or crayons. Then, you don’t have to wait for the paint to dry to move on to the next step.
Do the cutting yourself. This easy craft is perfect for kids of any age! You just have to adjust the instructions according to your child’s abilities. If you think cutting out the pieces for the shark would be too difficult for a younger child, take the time to cut out each element before your kids start making the craft. That way, all they have to do is paint and glue!