Our third paper weave ocean sea turtle craft this week is the paper weave Sea turtle. Sea turtles are found in all warm and temperate waters around the world.
Seaturtles migrate hundreds of miles and some travel up t 1400 miles travelling from the beaches where they nest to the feeding grounds. In fact you might want to share the kids movie A Turtles Tale with the kids. It's a great movie to help teach kids about the migration and journey or a Seaturtle.
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💖 Why You'll Love This Craft
- Creative & Educational: Kids get to weave while learning about ocean life and sea turtles in a fun and interactive way!
- Develops Fine Motor Skills: Weaving helps strengthen hand-eye coordination and fine motor skills—plus, it’s a great dexterity booster!
- Ocean-Themed Fun: It's a great way to introduce kids to ocean creatures and spark their curiosity about marine life.
🎨 Supplies Needed
- Cardstock
- Gluestick
- Scissors
- Paper Cutter
- Bubble Wrap
- Blue Paint
- Paint Brush
RELATED POST: EASY STINGRAY CRAFT FOR KIDS
🖌️ How To Make Bubble Wrap Print Background
- Step 1: Paint a large piece of bubble wrap with shades of blue paint.
- Step 2: Turn the bubble wrap over and place onto white paper.
- Step 3: Press firmly all over the bubble wrap. Pull up the bubble wrap.
- Step 4: Allow the paint to dry completely.
🖌️Instructions for Making the Sea Turtle
- Step 1: Download the sea turtle template and print out.
- Step 2: Cut the template out. Trace the template onto cardstock and cut out. (refer to the photos)
- Step 3: Fold the sea turtle in half and cut slits on the abdomen. Leave about half an inch around the edges to avoid tearing the paper while you weave.
- Step 4: Cut strips of light green cardstock.
- Step 5: Weave the strips in and out of the slits in the turtle.
- Step 6: Glue the edges of the paper strips to keep them from moving out of place. Cut off excess paper.
- Step 7: Cut a large white circle and a smaller black circle from cardstock. Glue the eyes together and then glue the eyes onto the turtle’s head.
- Step 8: Use a black marker to add a mouth to your turtle.
- Step 9: Glue your turtle onto the bubble print paper that you made previously. Your sea turtle craft is finished!
This is a wonderful classroom project! How cute would these look on a bulletin board?
Download Your Free Sea Turtle Template Here
💡 Pro Tip: Flip the turtle over and add a second layer of thin strips underneath to strengthen the weave and make the shell more durable for hanging or display.
🧑🎨 Expert Tips
- Weave Tightness: Keep each strip snug against the previous one to avoid gaps—loose weaves distract from the shell pattern and make the turtle shape look uneven.
- Shell Centering: Begin weaving from the center row and work outward on both sides—this keeps the symmetry intact and makes trimming more predictable.
- Angle Awareness: Slightly angle the flippers backward rather than straight out—they’ll match the natural swimming motion and give the craft a sense of movement.
- Strip Thickness: Use uniform-width strips to create a clean basket effect, but avoid overly thick strips that limit pattern visibility or crowd the turtle’s body.
- Head Placement: Align the turtle head just slightly above the shell’s curve, not too high or centered—this maintains proportion and keeps the face readable.
- Edge Smoothing: After trimming, run your fingers along the weave to press down corners—this keeps the surface flat and helps prevent peeling over time.
💭 FAQs
Green is common, but mixing in blue or olive tones makes the turtle blend better with an ocean background. It also helps different parts stand out.
Yes, fitting straight strips into a curved base takes extra care. Aligning edges cleanly helps the pattern follow the shell’s rounded outline without gaps.
A lighter ocean-toned background helps darker turtle pieces pop. This contrast keeps the figure visible without overpowering the full scene.
Consistent strip widths ensure an even weave pattern, making the turtle's shell appear neat and symmetrical. It also simplifies the weaving process for young children.
Related Products
Preschool Paper Weave Ocean Sea Turtle Craft
Equipment
- Scissors
Materials
- Cardstock
- Gluestick
- Paper Cutter
- Bubble Wrap
- Blue Paint
- Paint Brush
Instructions
- Paint a large piece of bubble wrap with shades of blue paint. Turn the bubble wrap over and place onto white paper.
- Press firmly all over the bubble wrap. Pull up the bubble wrap. Allow the paint to dry completely.
- Download the sea turtle template and print out.
- Cut the template out. Trace the template onto cardstock and cut out. (refer to the photos)
- Fold the sea turtle in half and cut slits on the abdomen.
- Leave about half an inch around the edges to avoid tearing the paper while you weave.
- Cut strips of light green cardstock.
- Weave the strips in and out of the slits in the turtle.
- Glue the edges of the paper strips to keep them from moving out of place. Cut off excess paper.
- Cut a large white circle and a smaller black circle from cardstock.
- Glue the eyes together and then glue the eyes onto the turtle’s head.
- Use a black marker to add a mouth to your turtle.
- Glue your turtle onto the bubble print paper that you made previously.
- Your sea turtle craft is finished!
🖌️ Related Crafts
Love these crafts! Don't forget to pin them on Pinterest or leave a comment and let us know how you got on!
Did you make this craft? Leave a review and comment below! Alternatively, bookmark it in your browser or save to Pinterest.
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SEA TURTLE, PUFFER FISH AND KILLER WHALE CRAFT
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