Make this fun and easy Clothespin Shark Craft using our free printable template! Kids will love creating a chomping shark that “eats” a fish—perfect for ocean themes and Shark Week fun.

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If your kids love ocean animals and crafts, they’ll love this Clothespin Shark Craft…and guess what, it can move! With the free printable template and a simple setup, kids can create a shark that chomps down on its prey thanks to the mechanics of a clothespin. It’s the perfect mix of creative play and fine motor skill development that’s great for shark week, ocean units, or just a fun afternoon!

Using our free download, kids color, cut, and glue the shark’s top and bottom jaws onto a clothespin. When they open and close it, the shark opens its mouth to reveal a fish inside that can be revealed when kids open and close the clothespin. It’s interactive, silly, and sure to be a hit!

Make this fun and easy Clothespin Shark Craft using our free printable template! Kids will love creating a chomping shark that "eats" a fish—perfect for ocean themes and Shark Week fun.

For your convivence, you can watch our short video tutorial here, and grab the template and print the directions that are available at the end of this post.

Learning About the Food Chain Through Play

This interactive clothespin shark craft is more than just fun—it’s a great hands-on way to introduce kids to basic science concepts like predators and the food chain. As kids build their chomping shark and glue the fish inside its mouth, it naturally opens up a discussion about how animals survive in their habitats. You can talk about how sharks are predators, what types of prey they eat, and how every animal plays a role in the ocean ecosystem. Visual, movement-based crafts like this one help young learners grasp big science ideas in a simple and memorable way.

Shark Activity Recommendations

If your kids can’t get enough of shark fun, be sure to check out our Baby Shark Paper Plate Kids Craft with Free Template—a favorite for younger kids who love singing while they craft! Pair this craft with a favorite shark book, ocean-themed songs (Slippery Fish is one of our favorites!)

For a more educational dive, explore our Learning About Shark Senses for Kids Science Activity + Free Printable, where kids can discover how sharks use sight, smell, and even electroreception to navigate the ocean and grab this shark easy reader book.

And if you’re building a sensory bin, my kids have been obsessed with these Sharks Nature Tube Figures—realistic play animals that bring their shark adventures to life through pretend play and exploration.

Shark face book for kids by national geographic https://amzn.to/4nzCR6x

Sharks Childrens Book https://amzn.to/44MdR4x

Chomping Clothespin Shark Craft

Step-by-Step Directions: Clothespin Shark Craft

For your convenience, watch our short tutorial then you can download the template and print the directions available for free at the bottom of this post.

✂️ Supplies:

Clothespins (wooden spring-type)
Printed shark craft template (free download)
Craft paper
Crayons, markers, or colored pencils (if using white paper)
Black felt tip marker
Scissors
Glue stick or craft glue

🧃 Directions:

Step 1: Print the Template
Grab your free printable shark craft template and print it on colored craft paper or print it on white paper for kids to use art supplies to color in themselves.

Step 2: Prepare the Template

Decorate the template pieces then use scissors to carefully cut out the top and bottom halves of the shark’s body, and the small fish piece that will go inside the mouth.

Step 3: Glue the Sharks Teeth

Glue the sharks teeth to the top half of the body, inside it’s mouth. It looks best if glued to the back of the template and not the front, but either way will work.

Step 4: Add the Clothespin

Close the clothespin and set it down on it’s side. Add glue to the side of the clothespin. Line up the top and bottom halves of the shark’s body and gently glue the shark body onto the clothespin. Make sure the tip of the sharks mouth is at the opening side of the clothespin. This will make it so the shark can open its mouth.

Step 5: Add the Fish Inside

Open the clothespin and glue the fish inside its mouth. Line it up so it looks like the shark is about to take a big chomp! when the clothespin closes. I found it worked best when we glued part of the fish’s tail to the backside, bottom part of the sharks mouth.

Optional: Glue a small piece of paper to the fish that can be used to glue the fish in the right position.

Optional:

Use a black felt tip marker to draw on details like an eye and gills. Now your shark is ready to snack while kids play with them.

🦈 What to Do with Your Chomping Shark Craft

Use as a Puppet for Shark-Themed Songs
Sing “Baby Shark” or “Slippery Fish” (This is one of our favorite songs about the food chain!!!) and have your clothespin shark act out the chomping motions!
Incorporate into a Science Lesson
Use it during a lesson about predators, food chains, or ocean animals—great visual for young learners.
Create a Shark Puppet Show
Make a few sharks and fish, and have kids put on a show. Add a paper ocean backdrop for extra fun!
Fine Motor Practice
Encourage kids to “feed” the shark by picking up small paper fish or pom-poms and placing them in the mouth—great for strengthening hand muscles.
Make It a Game Piece
Create a simple game where kids draw cards with fish on them, and their shark “eats” the right one.
Give It as a Gift
Kids can write a little note and give their shark to a friend, sibling, or grandparent as a fun keepsake.

Print the Directions