Paper Plate Beach Ball: How to Make with Torn Paper
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This paper plate beach ball craft is a brilliant way to have some frugal fun with kids. With just three supplies (paper plates, construction paper, and a glue stick), you can create a colorful beach ball that’s perfect for beach-themed lessons, summer fun, or even a rainy day indoors. This project is also fantastic for building fine motor skills (by tearing paper)and getting creative while staying on a budget.
I'm sharing easy-to-follow instructions (with picture) plus a list of supplies and some fun ways to use this craft for your homeschool, camp, or classroom activities. Whether you're celebrating summer or just looking for a fun hands-on project, this beach ball craft is sure to bring a smile to your kids' faces.
A Simple Way to Brighten Your Summer Fun
If you'd like to kick off summer fun (or just need an easy and affordable way to boost the season), I really think you're going to love this paper plate beach ball craft. I put together this project several summers ago (gosh, we've been homeschooling for over 14 years!) and enjoyed it with all of my boys.
We made these colorful beach balls as part of our summer homeschool fun. I loved how we could use the craft supplies that we had to enjoy a seasonal activity. It gave my little ones a chance to work on those fine motor skills in a fun way (tearing construction paper is a blast!) while my older boys could work on patterns and more complex designs.
Plus, we used this activity as a part of our letter “Bb” lessons. In fact, my oldest added those letters to his beach ball and used a teaching tools for his little brothers - so cute!
What You'll Need for This Beach Ball Craft
Before you begin your beautiful beach ball craft, I suggest that you collect the materials that you'll be using. To have your paper plate project look like the one in our tutorial, you will need:
- Paper plate
- Construction paper (blue, yellow, and red)
- Glue stick
- Pencil or marker
Want to make your DIY beach ball stand out? If you have the time and supplies, you can use glitter glue, washi tape, and stickers to add cool effects. Instead of construction paper, consider using decorative cardstock with texture and patterns. You can make it more of a recycling project by tearing strips or pieces out of a magazine or newspaper.
Amazon Basics Everyday Paper Plates, 8.62 Inch, Disposable, 200 CountWhite 6Crayola Construction Paper, 240 CountElmer's E543 Washable School Glue Sticks, Disappearing Purple, 4/PackSuperise 360 Sheets 36 Multicolor Tissue Paper Bulk Gift Wrapping Tissue Paper Decorative Art Rainbow Tissue Paper 12
Step-by-Step Instructions for Making Your Beach Ball Craft
Draw the beach ball outline.
Flip a paper plate over and use a pencil or marker to draw the outline of a beach ball. Draw a circle in the middle of the plate and then draw lines outward.
Tear the paper square pieces.
Tear small pieces of blue, yellow, and red construction paper.
Glue on the torn paper square pieces.
Apply glue to each section and fill it with the torn construction paper pieces, following your beach ball design. The white parts of the paper plate stay uncovered to mimic the classic look of a beach ball.
Frequently Asked Questions About This Summer Craft
This paper plate beach ball craft is perfect for kids of all ages! Younger children can enjoy the tearing and gluing process with a little help. Older students can take the lead and add more intricate details (like letters, numbers, or symbols) to their beach ball.
Yes! While construction paper works great, you can also use tissue paper, colored magazines, or even scrap paper for a unique twist on the craft.
Absolutely! You can scale up the project by using a larger paper plate or even a cardboard circle to create a bigger beach ball. And if you want a really big beach ball (or working with a large group) consider cutting a circle out of poster board!
Creative Ideas for Making and Using Your Paper Plate Beach Ball
I have found that it can be extremely helpful to take some time and talk with your children about the project that you'll be working on. Chat about beach balls - what they are, how they're used, common colors, and such. This simple type of conversation can get your creative juices flowing and ready to be crafty.
Once your craft is complete, you can hang it as a decoration on a window, wall, or refrigerator. If you're using a smaller version, you can even incorporate it into a DIY mobile or card.
Use your beach ball as a writing or drawing prompt. Your kids can sketch a seaside background and draw their beach ball in the pictures. For writing fun, your children can imagine using the beach ball in different areas, for a variety of games, or even having a magical one!
Take your beach ball fun to the next level with some activities using an actual beach ball. My boys and I love to go outside and play with beach balls!
More Frugal Activities for Summer Fun with Kids
Keep your cool with kids this summer by enjoying some simple activities. You don't have to spend a lot of money to make it a summer to remember! Here are some of our favorite ways to make a splash:
- Summer Coloring Bookmarks
- DIY Ocean Slime
- Under the Sea Mindfulness Activities
- DIY Campfire Craft
- Super Cute Ice Cream Cone Craft
⭐ I think it's awesome how you can totally customize this paper plate beach ball craft. I hope that you have as much fun with it as we did! How will you be using it with your kids? Please share (and any questions you may have) in the comments area at the bottom of this post!