Free Fish Activities for the Classroom

Teachers can use fish activities in their classrooms to teach lessons to their students.

Teachers often use themes to teach specific lessons or to determine art projects for art class. Some teachers use an underwater or fish theme. This theme can be used to teach art, thinking concepts and creative writing. Teachers can use free activities to incorporate a fish theme into their classroom.

Design a Fish

Once the students have learned about different types of fish and their characteristics that allow them to thrive in their environments, a teacher can assign an activity that allows the students to design their own fish. Students can work individually or in groups on this project. Give the students information on the environment that their fish will live in. Different students or groups can be given different environments. The students must then think about what characteristics their fish will need to survive. Students should then draw what their fish will look like and write a description of that fish, detailing characteristics and behaviors of the fish.

I am a Fish

Creative writing allows students to express themselves in new ways and teach them grammar rules and writing skills. Instruct the students to write a creative piece from the perspective of a fish. This creative piece can be a letter to a newspaper editor expressing concern about pollution and changes in the fish's environment. A short story about the day in the life of a fish is another option for students. The teacher can give more detailed instructions, such as what body of water the fish lives in.

Paper Plate Fish

Fish art projects are an easy way to incorporate a fish theme into a classroom. Teachers can do these projects with their class to decorate a classroom in a fish theme. Give students paper plates and instruct them to cut a triangle out of one side of the plate. Glue the small end of the triangle to the back of the other side of the plate, creating an open mouth on one end where the wedge was cut out and a tail on the other end. Glue a google-eye above the mouth of the fish. Use crayons, markers or paint to decorate the fish.

Handprint Fish

Handprint art projects are good for younger children because it allows parents to see how their children are growing. They can also serve to decorate a classroom and as a project that will entertain the children. Cut out fish bowl shapes from construction paper for each student in the class. Trace each child's hand onto a brightly colored piece of construction paper and cut them out with the wrist end of the hand rounded. Glue the hand cutout onto the fish bowl with the thumb facing up. Glue a googly eye onto the top of the wrist portion of the hand. Use markers or crayons to decorate the fish and to create sand or rocks at the bottom of the tank. Students can also draw plants and other decorations in their fish tanks.

References

• Gulf of Maine Aquarium: Design a Fish
• Lesson Tutor: Creative Writing -- I Am a Fish
• Enchanted Learning: Fish Paper Plate Craft
• All Kids Network: Handprint Fish Craft