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Yellow Paper Plate Submarine Craft – DIY Under The Sea Craft

Are you looking for easy under the sea crafts for kids? Then try this adorable paper plate submarine craft.

With only a few household items your children are able to create a fun yellow submarine display.

It makes the perfect ocean activity for preschoolers.

Let’s dive right in.

yello submarine paper plate craft

Do you need advice on How to Introduce Crafting to your Preschooler? Then read our 10 tips that work next.

Hello, friends!  

It’s Kelly from Kelly’s Classroom Online and I’m here to tell you about a fun, under-the-sea-themed craft for you to make with your children this summer. 

This DIY submarine craft is inspired by the classic song Yellow Submarine by The Beatles. 

How to Make a Submarine with Paper Plates

Making a submarine porthole is super easy and requires materials that can be purchased inexpensively at a dollar store.

Children in preschool, kindergarten, and early elementary school will enjoy this activity.

Here is what you will need to make this fun under-the-sea art project:

Yello Submarine Craft Materials

  • Two paper plates 
  • Crayons 
  • Blue watercolors 
  • Yellow tempera paint 
  • Paintbrush 
  • Scissors 
  • White glue 

Submarine Craft Instructions

Step 1:

Paint the back of two paper plates yellow and set them aside to dry. Then cut a large hole in one of the paper plates. These paper plates will become the edges of a porthole… the round exterior window of a submarine. 

diy paper plate craft step 1

Step 2:

Once your paper plates are dry, use your crayons and draw an underwater scene on one of your plates. Draw an underwater scene you might see if you were to look through a porthole. 

Add some fish and other sea creatures, rocks, plants, shells, seabed, etc. You could even draw a shipwreck if you wanted to! Use your imagination and have fun with it. 

Be sure to apply a lot of pressure to the crayon while drawing and coloring. The harder you press, the brighter your final product will be. 

under the sea craft

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Step 3:

After you draw your underwater scene, take your watercolors and paint over everything. The watercolors will adhere to the paper plate, but not to the crayon. This will add a watery effect to your drawing.  

When you are done, set the paper plate aside until the watercolors dry. 

under the ocean paper plate activity

Step 4:

Take your two paper plates and glue them together with the yellow sides. After the glue dries, your underwater scene is complete. 

Now you can pretend you are in a yellow submarine and are looking through the porthole. 

Feel free to add additional embellishments to your fish tank submarine decoration if you’d like. You can also punch a hole in it and add a string so you can hang it from the ceiling for everyone to see. 

diy submarine craft

Did your kids enjoy their submarine summer craft? Then try next this adorable DIY Smore’s Man Craft or our fun Water Balloon Painting.

About the Author

Kellys classroom

Kelly Wilson is a veteran teacher of almost 30 years. She has taught everything from preschool to 8th grade, however, early elementary education is her specialty.

Kelly holds a Bachelor’s degree in elementary education and English and a Master’s degree in Qualitative Research. She currently lives in New York with her three cats and is enjoying a well-earned sabbatical.

Follow Kelly on social media here:

Blog: www.kellysclassroomonline.com

Facebook: www.facebook.com/kellysclassroomonline

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Twitter: twitter.com/kellysclassroom

Do you have a girl at home and she would love to be a princess? Then try our adorable Princess Crafts next.

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Now I would like to hear from you!
How did you enjoy this submarine activity for preschoolers?
Either way, let me know by leaving a comment below right now.
I’d love to hear from you!

Kelly from Kelly's Classroom Online

Thursday 15th of July 2021

Thank you for the opportunity to write a guest post for your site! I hope we can work together again sometime!

Lil Tigers

Thursday 15th of July 2021

Thank you Kelly, I love your craft xx