Easy Manta Ray Craft for Kids (Free Printable)
A manta ray once saved me from a very traumatic experience. I had decided to try going on a jet ski in the ocean for the very first time…and I hated every minute of it. I just wanted to get back to the beach. But then a manta ray jumped out of the water. It was such an amazing sight, and it truly saved the day for me. This fun and simple manta ray craft can do the same for your day.
If you enjoy making this manta ray craft, you’re also going to love making this stingray craft, this orca craft and this sea turtle craft.
Save this Manta Ray Craft for later. Pin it to your favorite Pinterest board…
Your Kids are Going to Absolutely LOVE This Collection of Under the Sea Animals Paper Plate Crafts…
Fun Facts About Manta Rays
- Manta rays are enormous. Their wingspan can be as big as a standard bus.
- Even though they’re very large, they’re also very gentle.
- There are two primary species of manta rays: oceanic mantas and reef mantas.
- Manta rays glide beautifully through the water and can leap out the water also.
- They’re highly social animals.
- Some individuals of this remarkable species can live from 50 to 75 years old!
To learn more interesting things about manta rays, check out this article from the Great Barrier Reef Foundation.
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Check Out Our Favorite Manta Ray Books for Kids
The only thing better than making crafts is combining creating with reading a good book on the same topic. It’s a great way to also encourage a love of reading.
How to make a Fun Manta Ray Craft
For this manta ray craft, we stuck to the traditional colors. You can choose your own colors. Really make it your own. There are no rules, and the only limit is your imagination.
SUPPLIES FROM THE BAG
- Construction paper
- Scissors
- Clothespin
- Paint
- Pompom
- Paper plate
- Black Sharpie marker
- Markers
- Manta ray craft template
To make crafting with your kids actually do-able and fun (like it should be), we always stick to a list of basic supplies that fit into one bag for all of the crafts that you see on this site. We never stray from the master list so that once you fill your bag, you’re ready to craft along over and over again, even when time and money is tight. Now let’s craft some memories!
Check Out the Full Video Tutorial for This Sweet Manta Ray Craft
Step-by-step Instructions:
Step 1: Paint the Clothespin
- Squeeze a little paint out onto your paper plate (choose a color that coordinates with the color you choose for your manta ray).
- Create a “paint brush” by pinching a pompom with a clothespin.
- Use your paint brush to paint a clothespin, which will later form the tail of your manta ray.
Step 2: Use the Manta Ray Craft Template
- Download and print the manta ray craft template. You can do this on standard printer paper or directly onto construction paper (color of your choice).
- Then cut the manta ray shape out of construction paper. We used gray paper for this, but you can choose whatever color you like.
Step 3: Add Some Details to Your Cute Manta Ray
- Use your Sharpie to draw a happy little face on your manta ray.
- Then use your markers or crayons to form other details on your manta ray.
Step 4: Give Him His Tail
- Once the paint has dried, attach the clothespin to your cut out manta ray. The clothespin forms the tail of the manta ray. Did you know they call it a line tail?
Now that you know how to make your very own manta ray craft, why not create an entire squadron? That’s what they call a group of manta rays.
Keep the Crafty Fun Going!
Skip the Paint
Getting the paint out isn’t always an option. The good news is you can still make this craft even without the paint. There are a few options. Instead of painting the manta ray’s tail, simply use markers or crayons to color it. My favorite alternative is to get out the washi tape and cover it with a patterned washi tape that coordinates with the color you’ve chosen for the body of your manta ray craft.
Here are even more Ocean Crafts to make
Hammerhead Shark Craft
Diving Dolphin Craft
Starfish Craft
Share With Us
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For a chance to have your child’s project featured, simply snap a picture of the completed project and email it to us directly by clicking here or use #inthebagkidscrafts on your social media!