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Recycled Jellyfish

  • Science & STEM
  • Grades 4-5
  • Grades 6-8
  • Grades 1-3

Use items you already have in your home to create a fun jellyfish!

Materials

  • Neon Fuzzy Sticks
  • Watercolor Paint Palette
  • Scissors
  • Craft Glue
  • Hot Glue ***May Require Adult Assistance
  • Coffee Filter
  • Paper Cup
  • Pink, Purple & Silver Ribbon

Instructions

Step 1. Gather your supplies.

 

 

Step 2.

 

Flatten a coffee filter and paint it light blue, with some pink and purple spots mixed in.

 

Step 3.

 

Cut a paper cup so it is only about 2 1/2 – 3 inches deep.

 

Step 4.

 

Glue the bottom of the cup to the center of the coffee filter.

 

Step 5.

 

Bend a fuzzy stick at an inch long right angle.

 

Step 6.

 

Glue inside the cup, as shown.

 

Step 7.

 

Cut long pieces of silver, pink and purple ribbon. Curl them with the scissors (may require adult assistance).

 

Step 8.

 

Glue more pink and purple fuzzy sticks and the pieces of ribbon from Step 7 inside the cup.

 

Step 9.

 

Wrap the fuzzy sticks around your finger. then pull to add a slight wave to them.

 

Step 10.

 

Cut a white fuzzy stick in half.

 

Step 11.

 

Curve half of the white fuzzy stick and glue to the top of the cup so you can hang your jellyfish!

 


Teacher's Corner

Dive into this recycled craft while learning about one of the ocean’s coolest creatures: Jellyfish! 

Lesson Objectives

  • Did You Know: Jellyfish don’t have backbones, so they are considered invertebrates. While your class prepares to get crafty, take a minute to learn fun facts about jellyfish with National Geographic Kids!
  • Stick Together: Some jellyfish are clear while others are pink, yellow, blue, purple, or even luminescent. What colors will your students use to create theirs? Hang your class’s colorful creatures together on the ceiling to create a colorful group of jellyfish — also known as a smack!

Follow-up Discussion

It’s important to keep our oceans clean and safe for all creatures, including jellyfish. Crafting with recycled materials is a mindful way to keep waste out of the bodies of water around us. How else can you keep our oceans clean? Open a class discussion and find some inspiration for your action plan!