Looking for a fun craft to do with your kiddos while you learn about sea turtles? If so, you’ll love this cute and easy sea turtle suncatcher!
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If I’m being completely honest, sea turtle conservation wasn’t even on my radar before we moved to coastal North Carolina, but it didn’t take too many walks on the beach for us to become aware of the dangers sea turtles face.
Between our beach walks, the local aquarium, and the sea turtle rescue center, we think about sea turtles a lot now and we love learning about them.
Sea turtle conservation is a big deal in our area, so we love learning simple ways we can help these beautiful endangered friends.
That’s why we loved reading Follow the Moon Home. In it, a classroom of South Carolina kids work together to help with conservation efforts and removing as many threats to sea turtles as possible.
We also loved reading One Tiny Turtle and Little Turtle and the Song of the Sea. Both books focus on the natural dangers hatchlings face as they journey to the sea.
These realities aren’t always easy to share with children, but if nothing else we can learn the importance of removing the barriers these sea turtles face because of development, tourism, and all the things we humans leave behind.
That’s why it’s so important to focus on easy conservation steps as we learn about beaches and marine life. It’s also where something as simple as a sea turtle craft comes into the picture.
Sure, it’s just a little craft, but it can serve as a cute reminder to take care of our beaches and the creatures that depend on them for survival.
Sea Turtle Suncatcher Craft
Ready to get started with your sea turtle suncatcher? Here’s what you’ll need to make it happen:
- construction paper
- clear contact paper
- tissue paper
- scissors
- googly eyes
- hole punch (optional)
- string (optional)
Once you’ve gathered those craft supplies, you can move on to the first step.
Sea Turtle Suncatcher
Step 1. Sketch it out.
The first step is a pretty easy one. Gather your favorite book about sea turtles and look for an overhead illustration of a sea turtle. Then use that illustration to guide you as you lightly sketch the shape onto a sheet of construction paper.
You could also use this drawing tutorial to guide you if you prefer. You’ll just want to stop after Step 4 since it adds details you’ll remove in this project.
When you’re finished with the outline of the sea turtle, cut it out (or have your kiddo cut it out). To make the cutout on the inside of the sea turtle suncatcher, carefully poke a hole in the center of the shell space and use it as a starting point to cut the opening inside.
Sea Turtle Suncatcher
Step 2. Prepare contact paper.
Using the sea turtle cutout as a guide, let your kiddo estimate the amount of contact paper needed. Then cut out the paper and repeat the process again. This second sheet will provide the back needed for the craft.
Sea Turtle Suncatcher
Step 3. Add gift tissue.
Next, remove the backing from one sheet of contact paper and carefully place it on the work surface sticky side up. Then position the sea turtle cutout on the sticky sheet.
Then have your kiddo add bits of gift tissue to the center of the sea turtle by pressing them carefully onto the contact paper. You may prefer to use one or two colors to stay close (or as close as possible) to sea turtle markings, but you could also let your kiddo choose the colors and patterns.
Let’s be honest, they’ll probably do that anyway. ;)
We keep a container full of tissue paper squares for projects like these, but you can also have your kiddo rip little pieces of the tissue for this part. There’s no exact science to this step; just make sure the pieces are small enough and the colors are varied enough to add some interest. :)
Sea Turtle Suncatcher
Step 4: Seal and cut.
When the center of the sea turtle is covered with tissue paper, carefully seal it by pressing the other sheet of contact paper onto the exposed side of the turtle.
Next, carefully cut around the turtle.
Sea Turtle Suncatcher
Step 5. Add eyes.
The last step of our sea turtle craft is to add the eyes. If you have googly eyes with a sticky backing, simply remove the back and position them on the face of the turtle.
If you’re like us and don’t have and eyes with the backing, use a glue stick to stick them to the face.
If you don’t have googly eyes, you can also use a sharpie to draw eyes onto the face.
When you’re finished with that step, hold it up to a window and enjoy!
We’re loving this sweet sea turtle suncatcher, but we’re also excited to take a look at the other book-inspired ideas happening through The Nature Book Club.
Nature Book Club – Monthly Linkup
This month is all about reptiles and amphibians and you’re going to love all of these nature learning activities! Let’s take a look:
May Theme: Amphibians & Reptiles
- Frog Life Cycle Drawing and Frog Puppets from Thaleia at Something 2 Offer inspired by From Tadpole to Frog.
- Comparing Alligators & Crocodiles Notebooking Pages from Jenny at Faith and Good Works inspired by Alligators and Crocodiles.
- Yertle the Turtle Nature Book Club from Dachelle at Hide the Chocolate inspired by Yertle the Turtle.
- and Sea Turtle Suncatcher Craft from Emily at Table Life Blog (That’s me!) Inspired by Follow the Moon Home.