Rock Pool Craft

This is an ideal craft for the summer months when many students, and their families, will make a trip to the beach to escape the heat. In this craft your students will learn the names of some sea creatures and, after colouring and cutting, place them in a rock pool.

Download the printable package

We've bundled the whole rock pool craft into a free easy to download Adobe file. The package includes the marine creatures, rock pool template and full instructions. To download the file please click here (PDF 303KB.)

How to Use

Your students will need one copy each of the marine creatures and rockpool sheets. Begin by talking through the marine creature names (crab, fish, squid, seahorse, octopus and starfish.) Next ask the students to color each sea creature. If the children are able allow them to cut out the marine creatures. Help any children that have difficulty using scissors. Note: We've drawn a cutting line around each creature so that your students don't spend 10 minutes trying to cut around each of the octopus's legs!

With their marine creatures colored and cut next it's time to color the rock pool sheet. Once colored ask the children to decide where they'd like to paste their creatures.

Finish by having the students write their names in the box provided.

Getting the Children to Use English

As with any craft the time spent coloring, cutting and pasting is an ideal opportunity to use English in a natural environment. For example:

1. Ask the children if they can name any of the creatures before you start.
2. Designate one child to fetch the crayons or pencils. This allows you, along with the children, to talk about how many sets you need. The children must then use 'Here you are' and 'Thank you' as they are handed out.
3. Select a creature to color and ask the children to decide what color it should be.
4. Cutting can be a very quiet time, as the children concentrate on using their scissors. Fill this time by talking to the students about the creatures they are cutting.
5. Discuss with each child the positioning of their creatures with-in the rock pool.

Finally don't forget to praise each child on her, or his, completed craft; however far from your expected image it may have turned out!

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