Amazing Arts Activity for Deep Sea Creature Learning at Home
By Lindsay Holladay Van Damme and Alijah Benbrook
Looking for a hands-on arts and science activity with educational value for kids? Try an anglerfish pop-up card! This fun activity meets National Core Arts Standards and will teach kids to describe what an anglerfish looks like and the amazing way it captures food in the deep sea.
The Gist:
- Use simple materials like construction paper, scissors and glue sticks to make an anglerfish-inspired pop-up card.
- The anglerfish is a funky deep sea creature who uses a glowing “lure” that sticks off of it’s head to catch food.
- Teach kids about the deep sea and the anglerfish with a fun, simple art activity.
- Create a card for kids to share with a loved one!
Materials Needed
- Construction paper in at least three colors
- Scissors
- Glue
- Rulers
- Markers, pencils, crayons, colored pencils, etc.
- Optional: glitter, ribbon, sustainable craft materials, or other materials, printouts of some pre-drawn anglerfish as an alternative to hand drawing for younger youth.
Prepare Ahead of Time (optional)
- A completed example
- Put up pictures of anglerfish and/or an anglerfish intro video
- Print out some anglerfish cartoon coloring pages (linked at the bottom) for youth who prefer not to draw their own.
Ask & Connect
- What are some of the coolest animals you have heard of that live in the deepest part of the ocean?
- Intro video to deep sea creatures and their search for food.
- Have you heard of anglerfish? How do they catch their food?
- Intro video to anglerfish
- Pictures of anglerfish
- How do anglerfish attract fish in the deepest, darkest, coldest part of the ocean?
- They use a glowing “lure” that sticks off of their head!
- We are going to make a pop-up card inspired by anglerfish to give to the person who BRIGHTENS our day!
Which Anglerfish Pop-up Card Do You Want to Make?
Anglerfish Pop-up Card A
Step One: Gather and/or cut paper materials: Two pieces of dark paper folded in half for the card. One lighter circle.One white rectangle.
Step Two: Cut the circle in half and fold the cuts in half again. Then fold the round edges of the circles down.
Step Three: Cut a jagged row of teeth down the middle of the white rectangle. Save both pieces.
Step Four: Cut some fins and a tail for your anglerfish.
Step Five: Glue the fins and the teeth onto the half circles.
Step Six: Glue the tail down on the darkest piece of construction paper. Glue down the upper and lower jaws of the anglerfish so that they are open when the card is open and flat when it is closed.
Step Seven: Attach a lure out of paper or pipe cleaner. Use a marker to add eyes and any other details to the anglerfish. Add a fun note: You brighten my day! Thanks for being the light in my life!
Anglerfish Pop-Up Card B
Step One: Fold two pieces of paper in half.
Step Two: Cut out your anglerfish.
Step Three: Cut two slits in your darkest card on the folded side. (Hint — If you want more than just the fish to pop-up, create additional slits for other deep sea animals).
Step Four: Push the slits in, fold the card back together, and then reopen, the slits should now create a pop-out!
Step Five: Glue your anglerfish to the inside of the pop-up.
Glue your remaining piece of folded paper to the outside of the card to hide the hole. Add a fun note: You brighten my day! Thanks for being the light in my life!
Reflection Questions
- What is something new that you have learned about the deep sea, or about anglerfish?
- Share with a friend about how you made your card unique and who you plan on giving it to.
Videos that dive deeper into anglerfish
- MBARI — The anglerfish: The original approach to deep-sea fishing
- First footage of deep-sea anglerfish pair
- Natural History Museum — 3D scans reveal deep-sea anglerfish’s huge final meal
Videos that dive deeper into the deep sea
- TED.Ed — The otherworldly creatures in the ocean’s deepest depths
- Linked activities/questions
- NOAA — Deep Ocean Creatures
- What’s Hiding at the Most Solitary Place on Earth? The Deep Sea
National Core Art Standards
This activity meets the National Core Art Standards. Here’s a deep dive into the educational benefits of this activity for each age group:
K-2 graders
Engage collaboratively in exploration and imaginative play with the different materials, and brainstorming multiple approaches to a design/art project using personal interests and curiosities. Using observation and investigation in preparation for creating the artwork.
3rd-5th graders
Elaborating on imaginative ideas, and brainstorming multiple designs or approaches to a creative art or design problem. Combining ideas, and different tools or materials given, to generate an artistic investigation to create innovative ideas for art-making. Collaboratively setting goals to help create artwork that is meaningful and has purpose to the makers.
Middle Schoolers
Combine concepts collaboratively for innovative ideas for art-making to create something meaningful to the art maker, and using different methods to experiment and overcome creative blocks.
This activity was developed by the Marine Science team at foundry10 for summer programming at the YMCA during the COVID-19 era. To learn more about foundry10, follow us on social and subscribe to our monthly Newsletter.
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