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Clothespin Mermaids

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

Make a splash with your creativity! Dive into this mermaid clothespin craft for a fun alphabet lesson. 

Materials



Clothespin (1 Per Mermaid)
Acrylic Paint
1 Fuzzy Stick
1 Foam Sheet
Glitter
30-60" of Friendship Thread
Paintbrush

Pencil/Pen

Markers

Scissors

Glue or *Hot Glue* Adult Supervision Required

Instructions



Step  1.

Trace and cut a mermaid tail shape out of any color foam sheet!

Step  1.

Trace and cut a mermaid tail shape out of any color foam sheet!

Step  2.

Spread glue across the foam’s surface and cover it with glitter while it’s still wet. Let it dry completely.   

Step  2.

Spread glue across the foam’s surface and cover it with glitter while it’s still wet. Let it dry completely.   

Step  3.

Paint the end and sides of the clothespin — making a ‘V’ shape right below the coil bar.

Step  3.

Paint the end and sides of the clothespin — making a ‘V’ shape right below the coil bar.

Step  4.

Draw your mermaid’s face on the top of the clothespin!

Step  4.

Draw your mermaid’s face on the top of the clothespin!

Step  5.

Cut 2 inches from your fuzzy stick and twist both ends until they meet in the middle.

Step  5.

Cut 2 inches from your fuzzy stick and twist both ends until they meet in the middle.

Step  6.

Glue the fuzzy stick to the coil bar in the middle of the clothespin

Step  6.

Glue the fuzzy stick to the coil bar in the middle of the clothespin

Step  7.

Attach the sparkly tail to the end of clothespin — hold it for a few seconds while the glue dries!

Step  7.

Attach the sparkly tail to the end of clothespin — hold it for a few seconds while the glue dries!

Step  8.

Wrap friendship thread around 2 fingers a few times, then cut. Pinch the clothespin open, place the middle of the loop inside, then close it. Cut the loops to create your mermaid’s flowing hair!

 

Step  8.

Wrap friendship thread around 2 fingers a few times, then cut. Pinch the clothespin open, place the middle of the loop inside, then close it. Cut the loops to create your mermaid’s flowing hair!

 

Clothespins mer-made to help you learn about the alphabet!

  • Shell-abrate the Alphabet: The letter ‘M’ is one of the very few letters that we pronounce with our mouths closed — try it out! What other letter sounds can you make with your mouth shut?
  • Fin-tastic Fine Motor Skills: Shaking glitter, cutting fins, and gluing string can strengthen muscles in our hands and fingers, which will help with other activities, like swimming or digging for shells!  

Mermaids are common characters and themes in mythology and literature. Works like James Matthew Barrie’s Peter Pan and Hans Christian Andersen’s The Little Mermaid feature these sea creatures in a fun, fairy tale format. Read these children’s books to your students while they create clothespin mermaids to invite imagination into this arts and crafts lesson.