DIY Yellow Submarine Craft – Perfect for Little Artists!
Ahoy, art lovers! 🎨⚓
Looking for a bright, easy, and imaginative project to try with your students (or your own kids)? Dive under the sea with this Yellow Submarine craft—a playful project that sparks creativity while using simple recycled materials.
We recently made these in class using either cardboard or paper plates, and the results were absolutely adorable. For my sample, I turned a recycled Amazon book shipping envelope into a cheerful little submarine. Here’s how you can make one too!
🌟 What You’ll Need:
- Cardboard (or a paper plate)
- Yellow construction paper or tissue paper
- Scissors
- Glue stick
- Circle templates (or lids to trace around) for portholes
- Paint pens or markers (metallics are great!)
- Optional: googly eyes, glitter glue, or a bendy straw for the periscope
✂️ Instructions:
- Cut Out a Submarine Shape
Start with your cardboard or paper plate. I cut mine into a simple circle shape —basically a big bubble! You can trace a bowl or cup to get a perfect circle, or freehand it for a whimsical look. I recycled a cardboard shipping envelope (the kind you get when you order a book online) for this activity. - Cover It in Yellow
Use yellow construction paper or tissue paper to cover the surface. Just glue it on and trim the edges. You can also paint it yellow if you prefer! - Fold It in Half
I folded my envelope in half to give the submarine some dimension—it’s a great trick to make it pop off the page (or wall)! - Add Portholes
Trace circles in a row. I used paint pens to fill in and outline mine. Add little bolts around the edges—so fun! - Create a Periscope
Cut an “L” shape for the periscope. I glued it to the top and added details using black paint pen to make it really stand out. - Final Touches
Use your paint pens or markers to add underwater designs, windows, lines, fish, bubbles—you name it! Some kids even added seaweed and anchors.
🎨 Tips for the Classroom:
- This is a great project for practicing cutting skills, spatial awareness, and color contrast.
- It fits perfectly with a unit on transportation, the ocean, or The Beatles (yes, we played Yellow Submarine while working!).
- Turn it into a writing prompt by having students imagine where their submarine is traveling and who’s inside!
- I will be using these submarines in a provocation for learning about ocean habitats in which the children will create sea creatures on paper plates to represent what they are discovering and seeing through the portholes while riding in their yellow submarines!
💛 I love how this project combines recycling with storytelling. No two submarines turn out the same—just like the kids who make them.
I’d love to see your versions! Tag me on Instagram or drop a pic in the comments. Until next time, keep creating and stay curious! 🌊
