In honor of June being World Ocean Month, here are three easy egg carton crafts you can make in your classroom or at home! Teach your kids a fun craft while learning about the ocean and the harmful effects of single-use plastic on marine life. Keep reading for the full instructions:

Egg Carton Shark

Materials Needed:

  • 1 recycled paper egg carton
  • Blue acrylic paint
  • White acrylic paint
  • Black acrylic paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Googly eyes (optional)
  • Small piece of white paper or paint (for the mouth)

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Egg Carton:
    • Cut out two individual cup from the egg carton for the body.
    • Cut out three triangular shape from the flat sections for the fins and tail.
  2. Paint the Shark:
    • Paint the egg carton cup blue and let it dry.
    • Paint the fins and tail blue on both sides and let them dry.
  3. Assemble the Shark:
    • Glue the fin to the top of one egg carton cup and the tail to the back of the cup.
    • Glue the two cups together at the open sides, leaving one edge open for the Shark’s teeth.
  4. Add the Shark's Features:
    • Cut jagged sharp teeth from the white paper for the mouth and glue it to the front.
    • Paint on eyes using white and black paint, draw eyes with a black marker above the mouth, or use googly eyes if you have them.
  5. Finishing Touches:
    • Allow all parts to dry completely.

Egg Carton Crab

Materials Needed:

  • 1 recycled paper egg carton
  • Red acrylic paint
  • White acrylic paint
  • Black acrylic paint
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Red Pipe Cleaners

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Egg Carton:
    • Cut out one individual cup for the body and two more cups for the claws.
  2. Paint the Crab:
    • Paint all pieces red and let them dry.
  3. Assemble the Crab:
    • Glue the pipe cleaners to the sides of the body cup for legs.
    • Glue the claws to the other ends of the pipe cleaners.
  4. Add the Crab's Features:
    • Paint on eyes using white and black paint or draw eyes with a black marker. Paint or draw on a mouth using black paint or marker.
  5. Finishing Touches:
    • Allow all parts to dry completely.

Egg Carton Jellyfish

Materials Needed:

  • 1 recycled paper egg carton
  • Acrylic paint (your choice of color)
  • Paintbrush
  • Scissors
  • Glue
  • Pipe cleaners

Instructions:

  1. Prepare the Egg Carton:
    • Cut out one individual cup from the egg carton for the jellyfish body.
  2. Paint the Jellyfish:
    • Paint the egg carton cup in your desired color and let it dry.
  3. Create the Tentacles:
    • Cut several pipe cleaners into equal lengths (around 4-6 inches each).
    • Bend the pipe cleaners as desired.
  4. Assemble the Jellyfish:
    • Glue one end of each pipe cleaner to the inside of the egg carton cup, letting them hang down as tentacles.
  5. Add the Jellyfish's Features:
    • Paint on eyes using white and black paint, draw eyes with a black marker above the mouth, or use googly eyes if you have them.
  6. Finishing Touches:
    • Allow all parts to dry completely.

Share your ocean-friendly creations with us at #DitchPlasticPackaging and let's keep our seas clean and creative! 🌊🦈🦀🌊♻️