Handprint Octopus
This Handprint Octopus craft is a fun ocean activity for little hands. Kids will love turning their painted handprint into a cheerful octopus. We have included a printable background in both color and black and white so this easy craft for kids becomes a full picture that is perfect for displaying, framing, or adding to an ocean theme unit.
Supplies
- White paper
- Printable background
- Paint
- Paper plate
- Black marker
- Wiggle eyes
- Glue
- Newspaper
- Crayons, markers or colored pencils (optional)
Instructions
- Print out either the color background or the black and white background for each child.
- Cover your work surface with newspaper to help protect the table.
- Pour a small amount of paint onto a paper plate.
- Help the child press one open hand into the paint, making sure the palm and fingers are covered.
- Press the painted hand onto the printable background to create the octopus shape. Lift the hand carefully and let the paint dry completely.
- Glue wiggle eyes onto the handprint octopus.
- Use a black marker to draw a smile, eyebrows, and any extra details you would like.
- If you are using the black and white printable template, color the background with crayons, markers, or colored pencils.
- Let everything dry before displaying your finished handprint octopus craft.
Fun Facts
- An octopus has eight arms lined with suction cups that help it grab and explore things.
- Octopuses are very smart ocean animals and can solve simple problems.
- Some octopuses can change color to help them hide from predators.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on a pattern to open it in a new window and print in the correct size.
Teacher Friendly Educational Extension
This handprint octopus craft works well for ocean units, preschool classroom activities, and homeschool lessons.
Children can practice counting by counting the octopus arms.
Talk about where octopuses live and what other animals might be found in the ocean.
Invite children to describe their octopus and make up a short underwater story to go with their picture.
This is also a nice keepsake craft for parents since the handprint captures the child’s size at that moment in time.
Supplies
White Paper
Paint
Paper Plate
Black Marker
Wiggle Eyes
Glue
Newspaper
Crayons, Markers or Colored Pencils (optional)
Instructions
Print out either a black and white or color background for each child.
Cover your work surface with newspaper to protect it.
Pour a small quantity of paint on your paper plate.
Have the child place one hand, palm open, in the paint and then on the printed background.
Let dry.
Using the picture as a reference glue wiggle eggs on the octopus and draw a mouth and eyebrows with the marker.
If using the black and white options, the background can be colored.
Patterns, Templates and Printables
Click on a pattern to open it in a new window
Contributor
These projects are created by Terri, Betty, Jamie or one of the talented staff members at MakingFriends.com. They have been created exclusively for publication on FreeKidsCrafts.com with supplies you'll be able to find around your house.
