Make a paper great white shark craft swimming on a textured ocean background using our printable template. The shark’s fin pops out from the page giving it a cool 3D effect.
This is a great project to support learning about sharks, and it’s simple and fun to make too!
Are you a shark fan? They have to be one of the most fascinating species on the planet. Unfortunately, they are also one of the most feared.
Great Whites are responsible for a lot of the fear generated towards sharks, so today’s craft is based on the Great White species. You can use this craft as an opportunity to talk about sharks with your kids and encourage them to research more about them.
For example, did you know that Great Whites have the ability to keep their body temperature 10º warmer than the surrounding oceans? Or that being apex predators means they have an important role to play in keeping our oceans healthy?
Our great white shark swims on a ripple-patterned ocean background which can be printed using a sponge roller. You can use either a blue sheet of card stock for the water background to help the shark stand out on the page or a white sheet to get a more realistic ocean look. Both options work, but I personally prefer it printed on blue.
Let’s get started …
How to make a great white shark craft
You will need:
- The great white shark template printed out onto ordinary white paper
- A sheet of either blue or white card stock for the ocean background
- A sponge roller
- String
- Glue stick
- Scissors
- Pencils, crayons, or felt tips for colouring
- Light blue acrylic paint
How to:
Colour in the great white shark template. For a realistic-looking shark colour the top part grey and leave the bottom part white.
Cut the shapes out and fold along the dotted lines. Glue the top part of the shark to the bottom part, matching it up with the side fin.
Wrap string tightly around your sponge roller and tie it securely (you can snip the string off when finished).
Roll light blue paint across your paper and allow to dry. The string indents will leave a rippled ocean effect on your page. Allow to dry.
Glue the shark onto your textured ocean art.
The ocean painting technique would work for lots of different ocean-themed art ideas!
More ocean themed crafts for kids
- Make one of 14 different ocean animals with our paper plate ocean animal collection
- Sew the sweetest jellyfish softies using our free printable pattern
- Print and colour a fun shark paper bracelet
- Turn an egg carton into a DIY tropical reef nightlight. This craft turned out so pretty!
- Here are 30 more ocean-themed crafts for kids
I love this craft but what am I doing wrong? The top fins don’t line up and aren’t the same shape. Are there supposed to be two fins on top?
Hi Jeanneane, there is one fin on top and the fins align on the side once you fold the two pieces. So, fold the two pieces, align the nose and side fins up, glue together, and you should have the basic shark shape. Then glue him to your background. Hope this helps.