Ocean Zones Upcycled Craft Activity for Kids

Looking for a fun and educational ocean-themed craft for your kids? This easy and eco-friendly ocean zones craft will engage children in learning about the different layers of the ocean while also creating a functional piece of art!

The best part? It uses recycled materials, making it an environmentally conscious choice.

Perfect for kids ages 4-10, this craft is not only a fun activity but also a great opportunity to explore ocean zones in an interactive way.

Ready to dive in? Let’s get started!

Materials You’ll Need:

• An empty container (used disinfecting wipes container, oatmeal canister, protein powder tub, or even a plastic milk jug)
• Tissue paper or construction paper in shades of blue (or black for the midnight zone)
• Mod Podge or white glue
• Scissors
• Ocean animals printable (download it for free below)
• Paintbrush

How to Make the Ocean Zones Craft:

1. Prepare the Container: Start by removing the label from your container. If the label won’t come off easily, cover the container with white paper or construction paper to ensure the tissue paper won’t show through.
2. Tear Tissue Paper: Cut or tear your tissue paper into strips. For a realistic effect, use three different shades of blue to represent the sunlight, twilight, and midnight zones. You can also use black tissue paper for the midnight zone to mimic the true darkness of that deep ocean layer.
3. Apply Glue & Tissue Paper: Use the paintbrush to apply a layer of glue or Mod Podge to your container. Start at the bottom and apply the darkest blue tissue paper to represent the midnight zone. As you move upward, use lighter shades of blue to represent the twilight zone and sunlight zone. This gives a beautiful gradient effect that mimics how sunlight fades in deeper waters.
4. Seal with Glue: Once your container is fully covered in tissue paper, apply a final layer of glue or Mod Podge over the top to secure everything. Let the container dry completely.
5. Cut Out Ocean Animals: While the glue is drying, print the Ocean Zones Animal Cutouts (available for free below). Cut out the animals and prepare to place them in the appropriate zones.
6. Place the Animals in the Ocean: Once your container is dry, glue the animal cutouts to the zones in your craft. Some animals have specific zones:
   • Sunlight Zone: Kelp (plants), dolphins, sea turtles, whale
   • Twilight Zone: Anglerfish (with its glowing light), whale
   • Midnight Zone: deep-sea creatures like the anglerfish
7. Seal the Animals: Apply another layer of glue over the animals to seal them into place, making sure they’re securely attached.
8. Store Your Treasures: Now that your ocean zones craft is complete, use it to store small treasures like art supplies or even coins for a piggy bank!

Why This Craft Is Great for Kids

This craft is more than just an art project—it’s an interactive way to learn about the fascinating world of ocean zones. The different zones of the ocean—sunlight, twilight, and midnight—are introduced through visual representation and the inclusion of ocean animals that belong in each layer.

Not only does this craft teach kids about marine biology, but it also promotes recycling by using everyday items to create something beautiful and useful.

Bonus: Explore Ocean Zones Further!

If your child enjoys this craft, take it a step further by exploring ocean zones through books, videos, and more hands-on activities.

Here’s our digital poster to help learn Ocean Zones 101:

Our book Zale’s Tales: The Ocean Seeker is a great book to pair with this craft. It’s a fun adventure that explores the ocean’s diverse habitats while playing a game of hide-and-seek!

Ocean Zones Craft Printable:

Download your free ocean animal printable here!

This activity is the perfect way to combine learning with creativity, and it’s an excellent way to introduce young minds to the importance of ocean conservation. Plus, with so many ways to repurpose materials, it’s an eco-friendly choice that encourages kids to be mindful of the environment.

Learn More About Ocean Zones:

Did you know that most of the ocean is actually dark? Here’s a quick breakdown of the ocean zones:

• Sunlight Zone: This zone is full of life–dolphins, sea turtles, and plants thrive here. It’s the brightest zone and the only one where plants can grow, thanks to sunlight.
• Twilight Zone: As you go deeper, the sunlight fades. It’s dimly lit, and creatures like the bioluminescent anglerfish thrive here. Some whales can dive to this zone, but most animals in this zone have gills, not lungs.
• Midnight Zone: In this zone, it’s completely dark! The animals here create their own light (bioluminescence) to navigate. The pressure is high, and it’s freezing cold. This zone reaches to the ocean’s deepest trenches.

How Far Does Light Travel in the Ocean? from NOAA

Ocean Zones in a Jar from PBS Kids

Sci Show for Kids – Ocean Zone Video:

If your little ones love the ocean, don’t miss out on our eco-friendly kids’ apparel made from organic cotton, recycled polyester, and bamboo viscose. It’s a great way to spread ocean love while wearing comfy, planet-friendly clothes!

Pin It for Later:

Don’t forget to pin this post for later when you’re looking for more eco-friendly craft ideas for kids!

Pin this ocean zones craft to your Pinterest board!

We hope you and your kids enjoy creating this fun ocean zones craft! It’s the perfect way to dive into the wonders of the ocean while recycling materials and learning about marine life.

Happy crafting!

Live with porpoise, Eve + Rett

Disclaimer: All activities on this blog are intended to be performed with adult supervision. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when activities call for the use of materials that could potentially be harmful, such as scissors, or items that could present a choking risk (small items), or a drowning risk (water activities), and with introducing a new food/ingredient to a child (allergies). Observe caution and safety at all times. The author and blog disclaim liability for any damage, mishap, or injury that may occur from engaging in any of these activities on this blog.