Fantastic, Fabulous Fish

This is o-fish-ally a favorite project of young artists! Using fresh and salt water fish as inspiration, you will create a fabulous, colourful fish.

SUPPLIES

• Chroma 2 Washable Intense & Opaque Classroom Paint (assorted colours)
• 3 – 8 ½ x 11 pieces of copy paper
• Old newspaper or recycled paper
• Paintbrush
• Scissors
• Stapler
• String
• Optional
• Blue crepe paper

Step 1 – Make the parts

Review amazing fish found in fresh and salt water. Draw a fish body (head and belly) on a piece of paper. (1)

Cut out the fish shape and use as a template for the second side. The shapes should match.

Fold the third piece of paper in half longways, folded side to the left. From the top left corner, draw a diagonal line to the right edge to make a triangle shape and cut so you have 2 triangles for pectoral (side) fins. (2)

Towards the bottom of the paper, from the bottom right corner, draw 2 upward arcs toward the fold. (3)

Cut to make a tail shape. Use the leftover paper to create other triangle shapes for the top (dorsal) and bottom (pelvic) fins. (4)

Step 2 – Construct the fish

Staple a pectoral fin to each fish shape. Next, put the pelvic fin and the tail in between the two shapes and staple the fish shapes together along the outer edge, leaving an opening along the top. (5)

Shred or tear the recycled paper and fill the fish. (6)

Once the fish is filled, place the dorsal fin in between the shapes and staple the top closed. (7)

Step 3 – Paint the fish

Using the fish references as a guide – or your imagination – paint the fish using Chroma 2 Washable Paint. (8)

Make sure that you include the main parts of a fish: gills, scales, eyes, and the mouth. Paint one side and let dry. (9)

When the first side is dry, paint the second. (10)

Tip: If you want your fish to glow like undersea creatures, use Chroma 2 Washable in the fluorescent colours – these paints glow under a black light! (11, 12)