Kids can make a foam fish from recycled chair foam for awesome pretend play.  Explore scales and fins in this simple activity to discover how they help fish swim. Add this craft and imaginative play to your ocean theme with preschooler.

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A fish craft provides lots of opportunity for kids to imagine and create. The different textures, sizes and colors of the materials provide sensory and fine motor experiences.

Start with a piece of chair foam or similar foam. Add fins and scales to give each fish its unique character.

Once the fish are made, kids will want to swim and dive with their fun ocean characters. This builds gross motor movement along with the fine motor play.

Kids will have fun making spongy fish to add to their ocean themed pretend play!

Foam fish craft

Materials list

• 1 inch (2.5cm) thickness chair foam
  
• 1 mesh onion bag
• chenille stem or pipe cleaner
• craft eyes
• glue

Instructions for a mesh fish craft

Step 1. Cut out a fish shape from the foam.

The fish should be shorter than the length of the mesh bag, in order for one end of the bag to become the fish tail.

Back view

Step 2. Insert the fish into the mesh bag.

If there is a metal tip on the mesh bag you can use it as the 'nose'. Wrap the mesh snugly around the foam and secure at both ends with a twist of the chenille stem.

The chenille stem becomes a handle for holding the fish like a puppet so you can help him swim!

Front view

Step 3. Glue craft eyes to the front of the fish.

Step 4. Cut out a fin from a small piece of mesh and glue to the body.

Use this fun fish craft in your ocean theme, add it to your study of animal habitats, or make it a rainy day activity! 

Learning through play

• Discuss the different parts of a fish. Why do fish have fins? How do fish breath?
• Swim with the fish around the classroom, diving the fish up and down, for gross motor movement.
• Read One Fish Two Fish.
• Place small plastic fish in a plastic bin with water for sensory play.

More fun fish crafts from kid-friendly bloggers:

Foil Fish Craft from NurtureStore

Rainbow Fish Alphabet Matching Craft from I Can Teach My Child

Fish Paper Craft for Kids from Buggy and Buddy

Painted Rock Fish Craft from A Little Pinch of Perfect