✨ A Craft Filled with Magical
Our Little Mandu underwater family is getting bigger! After creating the Toilet Roll Octopus, Crab, and Fish, it’s time for a slightly bigger ocean friend, a friendly Toilet Roll Shark.
Using an empty toilet paper roll and simple coloured paper, children can make their own shark complete with fins, a tail, googly eyes, and a toothy smile. Despite its fierce-looking teeth, this little shark is all about creative fun!
The Craft
You’ll only need:
- 1 empty toilet paper roll
- Grey, blue, or light blue coloured paper
- White paper
- Extra coloured cardstock
- Child-safe scissors
- Glue stick
- Black marker
- Googly eyes (optional)
- Crayons or markers
- Stickers or paper shapes (optional)
✂️ Step-by-Step Instructions
Step 1: Colour the Toilet Roll
Wrap the toilet roll with grey or blue coloured paper. You can also paint the roll and leave it to dry.
Step 2: Make the Shark Tail
Draw a simple shark tail on coloured cardstock and cut it out.
Glue the tail onto the back of the toilet roll.
Step 3: Make the Fins
Cut out two side fins and one triangular top fin from matching cardstock.
Keep the shapes simple so they’re easy for little hands to work with.
Step 4: Attach the Fins
Glue one fin onto each side of the toilet roll.
Attach the triangular fin to the top and gently fold the side fins outward.
Step 5: Add the Shark Face
Glue on two googly eyes or draw the eyes with a marker.
Draw a big curved mouth near the front.
Step 6: Add the Teeth
Cut a small strip of white paper and create a simple zigzag edge to make the shark’s teeth.
Glue the teeth along the mouth to give your shark its famous toothy grin.
Step 7: Ready to Swim!
Your Toilet Roll Shark is ready for an ocean adventure!
Place it beside your fish, crab, and octopus and watch your recycled underwater world grow.
🌱 Educational Benefits
🦈 Introduces Ocean Animals
Children can learn about sharks, their fins, tails, teeth, and where they live.
✋ Develops Fine Motor Skills
Cutting fins, gluing small pieces, and decorating help strengthen hand-eye coordination.
🔺 Encourages Shape Recognition
Children can identify triangles in the shark’s fins and teeth while creating their craft.
🎨 Inspires Creativity
Kids can experiment with different colours, patterns, expressions, and decorations.
♻️ Promotes Recycling
An empty toilet roll becomes a fun ocean character instead of going straight into the bin.
🌊 Encourages Imaginative Play
The shark can join the other handmade sea creatures for storytelling and underwater adventures.
🎉 Wrap-Up
The DIY Toilet Roll Shark is a fun and simple addition to our growing recycled ocean family. With a few pieces of coloured paper and a toilet roll, children can create a friendly shark while practising cutting, gluing, shape recognition, and creative thinking.
Now your octopus, crab, fish, and shark can all explore the ocean together!
🌊 Little Mandu Tip: Line a cardboard box with blue paper and add paper seaweed, coral, rocks, and bubbles. Place all four toilet roll animals inside to create a DIY Under-the-Sea Diorama that children can use for storytelling and pretend play.
For more creative kids’ activities, visit Little Mandu’s Crafts Corner.
