10 EASY Turtle Crafts for Kids (2023)
Looking for some turtle crafts for kids?
I have 10 fun and easy turtle crafts that your kids will LOVE! These crafts are perfect for an ocean-themed unit, letter T activities, or just for fun!
Let’s get started with some awesome turtle crafts.
Craft #1: Paper Plate Turtle Craft
Paper plate crafts are easy and fun for kids. This turtle craft for kids is a must-try activity!
I love that you can create such amazing crafts out of a simple paper plate.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- paper plate
- tissue paper squares
- glue stick
- cardstock paper
- scissors
- googly eyes
B. Set-up
The kids will pick out the colors of tissue paper that they want to use. Then, have them use a glue stick to stick the tissue paper squares on the plate.
While they are doing this step, you can create the turtle’s head and legs.
C. Activity
The kids can cut out the pieces you created for the turtle. Then, they will use a glue stick to glue the pieces to the paper plate!
If they aren’t sticking good, you can always use a hot glue gun to make sure they stay on.
Add a face to the turtle, and you have a pretty and colorful turtle craft!
RELATED: Paper Plate Crafts for Kids
Craft #2: Coffee Filter Turtle Craft
Have you ever tried a coffee filter craft? They turn out SO awesome, and it’s an easy activity for kids to do.
All they have to do is scribble on the coffee filters! This is such a great turtle craft for kids.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- markers
- coffee filters
- art trays
- spray bottles
- cardstock paper
- glue stick
- googly eyes
- scissors
B. Set-up
Have the kids use markers to color on the coffee filters. They can use a specific color pattern or use whatever colors they want.
Place the coffee filters on an art tray and have the kids spray the coffee filters to make them completely wet.
Let them dry (this is how they look the best). If you plan to do this activity, I’d do this part the first day and complete the craft the next day.
C. Activity
Cut the pieces of the turtle out of cardstock paper. Then, have the kids use a glue stick to glue on the pieces.
Add some googly eyes and a smile for the turtles!
Check out how pretty and fun this turtle craft is!
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Craft #3: Cardboard Turtle Craft
I love that you can use many different craft supplies for this turtle craft for kids!
They all look unique and adorable in their own way! I love looking at the differences!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardboard
- box cutter
- buttons
- tissue paper
- poms
- cardstock paper
- googly eyes
- scissors
- glue
B. Set-up
Place a bowl on a piece of cardstock and trace it using a pencil. Then, use a box cutter to cut out the circle you created. An adult should do this step of the project.
C. Activity
Create a head, legs, and tail for the turtle. The kids will use a glue stick to stick these items underneath the shell.
Then, the kids will stick on buttons, scrunch up tissue paper squares, or use poms for the turtle’s shells.
They can use regular school glue to stick these items on!
Craft #4: Pasta Turtle Craft
Sensory crafts are fun, and the kids love to use them to create.
Using shell pasta noodles was perfect for making the turtle’s shell!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardboard
- shell pasta noodles
- acrylic paint
- ziplock bag
- parchment paper
- art tray
- googly eyes
- marker
- glue
B. Set-up
To color the pasta noodles, you will add a cup of shell pasta in a ziplock bag. Dump some acrylic paint in, close the bag up, and shake it! Then, dump out the shells on an art tray covered with parchment paper.
Repeat this process if you want to do another color.
Let them dry. It takes about 20-30 minutes for the shells to dry.
C. Activity
Draw a turtle shape onto cardboard. Then, paint it using acrylic paints!
Then, have the kids use school glue to glue the pasta noodles to the turtle’s shell.
Add googly eyes and a smile to your turtle! Let it dry and then feel it! The kids will love the 3D look of the turtle!
RELATED: Sensory Activities for Kids
Craft #5: Cupcake Liner Turtle Craft
Using cupcake liners for crafts is so fun and different!
I used the cupcake liners for a turtle craft because they make the perfect shell for a turtle, don’t they?
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cupcake liners
- hot glue
- poms
- sticker googly eyes
- sequins
- glue
B. Set-up
Grab all of your supplies and plug in your hot glue gun.
C. Activity
This craft requires the use of a hot glue gun. Most of this craft would be done by an adult. However, there is a spot where kids can be included in this craft; I’ll explain.
You want to take a large pom and hot glue it to the cupcake liner for the head of the turtle.
Then, you’ll want to take 4 smaller green poms and hot glue them to the sides of the cupcake liner for the legs.
After this part is done, the kids can decorate the top of the cupcake liners. They can use markers, small macaroni noodles, gems, or sequins to make the turtle shells colorful!
Craft #6: Handprint Turtles
I always have to add a handprint craft to all the craft articles!
I just love them; seeing the kid’s hands in crafts is the cutest. Of course, they always love it too. This turtle craft is a must-try idea!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- green cardstock paper
- googly eyes
- glue
- marker
- pencil
- colored macaroni
Lakeshore Learning's Colored Macaroni
B. Set-up
Trace your little one’s hand on green cardstock paper and cut it out.
Create a head for the turtle, cut it out and use a glue stick to paste it to the handprint.
C. Activity
We used shell noodles from our Lakeshore Learning colored macaroni pack for this craft!
Have the kids use glue to attach the shell pasta noodles to the turtle’s shell. They can use both big and small noodles!
Add the googly eyes and a smile, and you have the cutest turtle craft for kids!
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Craft #7: Sponge Turtle Craft
Using sponges is one of my favorite supplies to use for crafting with the kids.
Making shells using sponges is an easy and fun way to make a turtle craft.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- sponge
- scissors
- acrylic paint
- colored paper
- googly eyes
- glue
- art tray
- acrylic paint markers
B. Set-up
Create a semi-circle using a Sharpie marker on a sponge, and it cut out.
C. Activity
Have the kids paint the sponge green. They will make a few prints on the blue paper, so it seems like the turtles are swimming in the water!
Create the turtle’s head and legs out of green paper. Then, cut these pieces out and have the kids paste them in the correct spots.
Lastly, have the kids add googly eyes on the turtle and paint on a tail! You can also use acrylic paint markers to make waves in the water!
RELATED: Ocean Crafts for Kids
Craft #8: Turtle Color by Code
This color-by-code pet animal-themed activity is a fun way for kids to work on numbers! There is a turtle in this pack along with (a dog, cat, fish, snake, bunny, rabbit, and bird)
My son loves the color-by-code printables SO much! They are by far his favorite learning activity.
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- Color by Code sheets
- crayons
- markers
Grab your pet animal color by code printable HERE
B. Set-up
Print off the sheets that you want to use!
C. Activity
Make sure your child understands how to read the key at the top of the page. Then, they will color each number in the picture based on what the key says.
These are my kid’s favorite out of all the printables I create. They love revealing the picture at the end!
RELATED: Math PrintablesÂ
Craft #9: Seashell Turtle Craft
Using seashells is the PERFECT way to make a turtle craft!
We had a bunch of shells from a trip that we went on just sitting in my son’s room. He was so excited to put them to use!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- cardstock paper
- googly eyes
- glue
- hot glue
- craft seashells or ones you have!
- acrylic paint markers
B. Set-up
Create the turtle’s head and legs on cardstock paper.
We placed the shells onto the paper and created the pieces to make sure they would fit and look good!
C. Activity
Have the kids use acrylic paint markers to paint the seashells different colors! The acrylic paint markers are a great supply to use! It’s less messy than having to worry about painting. However, using acrylic paints would work as well!
While you are waiting for the shells to dry, have the kids add googly eyes and a smile on the head of the turtle.
Once the shell is dry, the adult will have to hot glue the head and legs to the shell to get them to stick.
Check out your pretty turtles!! My kids put these in their rooms for decoration!
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Craft #10: Rock Turtles
Painting rocks is one of my kid’s favorite activities. They find it so much fun to use rocks for art projects!
We had to try making turtles out of rocks!
How to do this activity
A. Materials you need
- acrylic paint markers
- paintbrushes
- cardstock paper
- rocks
- hot glue
B. Set-up
Create a turtle on cardstock paper and cut it out!
C. Activity
The kids will use acrylic paints to paint the rocks for the turtle’s shell! They can make ones that actually look like a turtle’s shell, or they can create how they’d like!
Wait for the rock to dry.
Then, an adult will use hot glue to attach the rock to the turtle’s body.
What a fun way to use rocks for crafting!
RELATED: Outdoor Activities for Kids
Final Thoughts and Conclusion
Turtle crafts are so much fun to do with the kids!
I hope you can find some turtle crafts for kids that you’ll try! I’d love to hear about what craft you tried with your kids at home or in the classroom.
Happy Crafting!
Deena
