Ocean: Shark porthole suncatchers

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Shark & Ocean-Themed Porthole Crafts – 5 Ways

These ocean crafts all create a “window into the sea” effect, with sharks and ocean animals swimming by. Choose one version or mix and match depending on the supplies you have. Each is simple, budget-friendly, and makes a great sunny window decoration.

1. Amazon Shark Porthole Kit

Best for: quick, ready-to-use activity with minimal prep

Supplies:

Shark/ocean animal porthole craft kit (includes frames, silhouettes, tissue paper, and string)

Scissors (if kit requires trimming)

Optional: extra tissue paper for more color variety

2. Paper Plate Porthole

Best for: inexpensive, kid-friendly version with a sturdy base

Supplies:

Sturdy white paper plate

Silver or gray paint (or metallic marker)

Paintbrush or sponge

Clear contact paper (sticky on one side)

Tissue paper in blue, teal, white, and gray

Shark silhouette (printed or hand-drawn on black paper)

Scissors

Hole punch & string or ribbon for hanging

Optional: aluminum foil dots or gems for “bolts”

3. Shark Silhouette Suncatcher (Not a Porthole)

Best for: a bold shark outline with stained-glass effect

Supplies:

Black cardstock or construction paper

Printed shark outline template

Clear contact paper

Tissue paper in shades of blue & teal

Scissors/craft knife (to cut out inside sections)

Tape or glue stick

Hole punch & string or suction cup for hanging

4. Faux Sea Glass Ocean Porthole

Best for: a textured, realistic sea glass look

Supplies:

Clear plastic lids (from takeout containers or jars)

Faux sea glass pieces (plastic or craft glass — avoid sharp edges)

Strong clear glue (craft glue, tacky glue, or hot glue for older kids)

Shark or fish silhouettes (optional, cut from waterproof vinyl or paper and glued underneath)

String or suction cup hook for hanging

5. All-Paper Porthole

Best for: classrooms or group crafts without messy materials

Supplies:

Black construction paper or cardstock (for frame)

Shark silhouette (cut from gray, black, or printed template)

Tissue paper in blue, teal, white

Glue stick or double-sided tape

Scissors

Optional: silver cardstock or metallic marker for “bolts”

Basic Instructions for All Versions

Create Your Frame or Shape

Cut out a porthole ring, paper plate center, or shark shape.

Prepare the Background

Add tissue paper pieces to contact paper, overlapping colors.

Add the Shark/Animals

Glue or press silhouettes onto the background.

Seal (if using contact paper)

Add a second contact paper layer to sandwich the design.

Hang in a Window

Use string, ribbon, or suction cups to display.

Tips & Variations

Add fish, seaweed, or bubbles for extra detail.

Use gold or silver cardstock for a metallic porthole look.

Layer different shades of blue for more depth.

Mix styles — you can create a porthole with a shark silhouette, or a sea glass piece with animal shapes inside.

STEM Tie-In

When sunlight passes through tissue paper or sea glass, certain colors of light are absorbed while others pass through, creating the “stained glass” look. This is similar to how water filters sunlight — reds disappear first underwater, leaving blues and greens at greater depths.

🦈 Shark Facts to Share While Crafting

Sharks don’t have bones!

Their skeletons are made of cartilage — the same flexible stuff in your ears and nose.

They’ve been around longer than trees.

Sharks have existed for over 400 million years, way before the first trees appeared.

Some sharks glow in the dark.

Certain deep-sea sharks have bioluminescence, which helps them camouflage or communicate.

Sharks lose teeth constantly.

Some species can go through 30,000 teeth in a lifetime — they just keep growing new ones.

Not all sharks are big hunters.

The whale shark is the largest fish in the sea but eats tiny plankton.

Sharks have amazing senses.

They can detect a drop of blood in the water from up to a third of a mile away.

They’re vital to the ocean’s health.

Sharks keep fish populations balanced and help coral reefs thrive.

📚 Read-Aloud & Storytime Suggestions

You can either read a picture book, a chapter from a nonfiction book, or a short article while kids work.

Picture Books (Younger Kids)

Shark Lady by Jess Keating — about Eugenie Clark, a pioneering female shark scientist.

If Sharks Disappeared by Lily Williams — simple but powerful on why sharks matter.

I Am the Shark by Joan Holub — fun and fact-filled, comparing different shark species.

Nonfiction (All Ages)

National Geographic Kids: Sharks! by Anne Schreiber — great mix of photos and facts.

The Ultimate Book of Sharks by Brian Skerry — stunning images and detailed info.

Short Articles or Passages

A kid-friendly shark conservation article from the Monterey Bay Aquarium or WWF.

Fun “Top 10 Weirdest Sharks” lists to keep them giggling while they glue.

Pro Tip:

If the group is restless, read one fact or short paragraph every few minutes so it feels like a fun “fact break” instead of a long lecture.