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This project, adapted from the well known Paper Plate Aquarium, is a unique and fun way for kids to create their own world under the sea. If making this as a classroom project, line the wall with gray paper and line up your portholes for all to see.

What you'll need:

  • 2 paper plates
  • Silver craft paint (recommended: Rich Art Tempera Metallic Washable Paint in Metallic Silver, available at Michaels)
  • 8 pieces of ring shaped cereal
  • Fish-shaped crackers
  • Silk plant leaves
  • Sea shells (recommended: Value Pack Sea Shells, available at Michaels)
  • Sand
  • White craft glue
  • Blue cellophane
  • Wax paper
  • Scissors (recommended: Crayola Pointed Tip Scissors, available at Michaels)

How to make it:

  1. Take both paper plates and set them on the table. One should be right side up and the other should be upside down.
  2. On the plate that is right side up, draw your sea floor about 1/3 up the center of the plate.
  3. Line the floor area with white glue, use an old paintbrush or your finger to spread the glue out evenly.
  4. Cover the wet glue with sand and set aside to dry.
  5. On the upside down plate, draw a circle where you will cut out your porthole in the center of the plate.
  6. Glue ring shaped cereal pieces around the circle; these are the bolts on the porthole. Let dry.
  7. Paint the cereal pieces and the paper plate from the outer edge to your penciled lines. Don’t worry about painting over the lines a little, as you will be cutting it out. Set aside to dry.
  8. Take the paper plate with the sand on it and hold it over a sheet of wax paper. Turn the plate sideways and gently tap it to loosen any excess sand. The sand should end up on the wax paper and you can save that for another project.
  9. Glue sea life onto the plate with the sand floor. Glue on shells, silk leaves, and fish shaped crackers. Let dry.
  10. Take the silver painted plate and cut out the center circle to create your porthole window. Place it gently over the top of the other plate to see if you are happy with its size and viewing area. Increase size of the hole if you like.
  11. Turn silver plate upside down.
  12. Cut a piece of blue cellophane large enough to cover the hole on the plate and glue in place. Let dry.
  13. Place porthole plate over the top of the sea life plate and glue together. Let dry.
  14. You can add a hanger to the project if you like, simply glue some string or yarn between the two plates at the top during step 13.

Tips:

  • You can simplify the supplies in this project by using construction paper to make fish, plants and even shells.
  • Make your fish scene more cartoonish by adding wiggle eyes to the fish.
  • If you don’t have blue cellophane, use clear plastic wrap and paint the background of the seal life plate blue before adding sand and sea creatures.