Surprise Shark! Easy Printable Craft for Kids

This adorable little shark is hiding a toothy surprise! A free printable makes this paper craft easy enough for very young kids.

Who’s ready for a shark surprise? This printable shark craft is such a fun activity for kids who love ocean animals. Whether you’re celebrating Shark Week, learning about the fascinating world of sharks, or just looking for something to do on a rainy afternoon, this little guy is sure to make your shark fans smile.

All you need is a few simple materials: a free shark template, a few simple supplies, and some creativity. Kids of all ages will have so much fun coloring, folding, and surprising their friends with a toothy grin. Plus, it’s a sneaky way to build fine motor skills while making a craft that’s lots of fun!

Materials

Free printable template (white version, colored version)
White computer paper
Colors

Directions

Print the shark template — Start your easy shark craft by printing the free printable shark template on white paper. There are two versions, depending on what you want to focus on. The shark coloring pages (white) version has the kids color the shark before folding, and the colored version prints in color so you can focus on just the folding!

Color the printable shark template — If you’re doing the coloring page version, let the kids go to town coloring the shark’s body and the little fish.

Fold the bottom up — To fold your shark, start by folding the bottom back along the bottom of the teeth.

Fold the top down — Then, fold the top back along the top of the teeth.

Fold the center in half — Finally, fold the center section in half. It’s going to stick out in back while the two other fold should meet in the middle to form a complete-looking shark. You can actually use it as a shark puppet as well!

Using Surprise Sharks! in your classroom

Once your young shark fans finish their printable shark craft, try some of these creative ideas to help the kids develop a love of sharks:

Sing along with a shark song: Have kids open and close their sharks’ mouths in time with classic ocean songs like “Baby Shark,” “We’re Going on a Shark Hunt,” or “10 Little Fishies.” It’s a fun way to practice rhythm and music!
Storytime buddy: Let kids hold their sharks while reading a fun book about ocean life, like The Shark Lady, the true story of Eugenie Clark, The Shark who was Afraid of the Dark, or even a classic children’s book like The Rainbow Fish. Their sharks can “listen” along and open their mouths if they’re surprised or excited by what’s happening in the story!
Learning through movement: Call out actions like “Swim fast!” “Hide!” “Open your mouth!” and have kids move their shark crafts accordingly. It’s a great way to sneak in some gross motor play along with fine motor skills from the folding.