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Clothespin Whale

  • Motor Practice
  • Spelling
  • Grades 4-5
  • Grades 1-3

Make a splash with a moving whale clothespin craft!

Materials


1 Clothespin (Per Whale)
2 Craft Foam Sheet
Wiggly Eyes
Acrylic Paint
Paintbrush

Glue or *Hot Glue* Adult Supervision Required

Pen/Pencil

Scissors

Instructions


Step  1.

Trace the outline of your whale on the blue foam sheet. Then, trace out the water spout on the white foam sheet.

Step  1.

Trace the outline of your whale on the blue foam sheet. Then, trace out the water spout on the white foam sheet.

Step  2.

Cut out both foam pieces!

  • TIP: Now that it’s away from the sheet, it’s easier to cut wavy designs on the whale’s tail if you’d like!

Step  2.

Cut out both foam pieces!

  • TIP: Now that it’s away from the sheet, it’s easier to cut wavy designs on the whale’s tail if you’d like!

Step  3.

Attach the clothespin to the back of the whale body, angling the tip of the clothespin up towards the head. Only glue the foam to the bottom wooden piece of the clothespin!

Step  3.

Attach the clothespin to the back of the whale body, angling the tip of the clothespin up towards the head. Only glue the foam to the bottom wooden piece of the clothespin!

Step  4.

Glue the white foam spout to the top of the clothespin. Now, when you pinch the clothespin, it looks like your whale is spraying water out of its blowhole!

Step  4.

Glue the white foam spout to the top of the clothespin. Now, when you pinch the clothespin, it looks like your whale is spraying water out of its blowhole!

Step  5.

Cut two 1/2-inch pieces of fuzzy stick for your whale’s face! Curl one into a smile and the other into a small circle to use as the eye — glue each one onto the front.

  • TIP: You can also attach wiggly eyes to your whale for some movement!

Step  5.

Cut two 1/2-inch pieces of fuzzy stick for your whale’s face! Curl one into a smile and the other into a small circle to use as the eye — glue each one onto the front.

  • TIP: You can also attach wiggly eyes to your whale for some movement!

Step  6.

Add unique details to your whale — paint waves on its tale, create more foam fins, or add glittery barnacles to its belly!       

Step  6.

Add unique details to your whale — paint waves on its tale, create more foam fins, or add glittery barnacles to its belly!       

Teacher's Corner

Have a whale of a time with the letter ‘W’ — create stories and learn facts about the world’s largest sea creature!

Lesson Objectives

  • Tell A Tail: Use this letter to teach your students about alliteration, when the same letter or sound occurs at the beginning of two or more words in a row. As a class, create sentences using the letter ‘W’ more than once to make alliterative phrases! For example: The wind was whistling through the weeping willows.
  • Fin-tastic Fine Motor Skills: Pinching clothespins, cutting foams, and gluing them all together strengthens finger and hand muscles to help with dexterity for other activities, like writing!

Follow-up Discussion

Did you know that whales can live up to 90 years?! Discover all kinds of fun facts about the world’s largest sea creature while crafting mini ones by visiting National Geographic Kids for info and images!