Mermaid Tails
Ocean giants and glittering fins
The Set Up
This is one of those activities that feels joyful even to say out loud!
Whales and mermaid tails share a similar silhouette, so all it takes is turning the shape on its side, making a few snips, and a creature transforms into something new. It's a reminder to look again, because sometimes a whole other world is hiding in plain sight.
Collage is the heart of this activity. Curate a table full of irresistible textures and colours: paint sticks, oil pastels, washi tape, stickers, sparkly papers, tissue, foam stickers, even shiny scraps you have repurposed. I love adding glass pebbles, which settle onto the tails like underwater treasure or cling to the edges like barnacles.
The Making
Start with the whale or tail shape and then let the collage table do the work. Children cut, layer, stick and cover until the shapes transform into something shimmering and full of life. Whales turn into tails, tails back into whales, and sometimes into something else entirely!
These shapes can then be collaged onto another sheet of painted paper so that the play continues, building whole underwater scenes where creatures and tails overlap, stack and swim across the page.
It's the act of shifting and layering that matters most, not the final form.
Variations
Cut the shapes larger than life out of cardboard so they grow into sculptures that take over the room.
String smaller tails together into a mobile that sways like they're swimming!
Materials
Cardboard or sturdy paper for whale and tail bases
Paint sticks, oil pastels, markers for bold colour
Tissue paper, shiny scraps, sparkly paper, washi tape
Foam stickers, sequins, glass pebbles for treasure details
Scissors
PVA or Elmer’s glue (stronger than sticks)
Optional extras such as cardboard offcuts for layering or large sheets of painted paper for building underwater scenes
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Mermaid Tails
Ocean giants and glittering fins
Bookmark
Collage
The Set Up
This is one of those activities that feels joyful even to say out loud!
Whales and mermaid tails share a similar silhouette, so all it takes is turning the shape on its side, making a few snips, and a creature transforms into something new. It's a reminder to look again, because sometimes a whole other world is hiding in plain sight.
Collage is the heart of this activity. Curate a table full of irresistible textures and colours: paint sticks, oil pastels, washi tape, stickers, sparkly papers, tissue, foam stickers, even shiny scraps you have repurposed. I love adding glass pebbles, which settle onto the tails like underwater treasure or cling to the edges like barnacles.
The Making
Start with the whale or tail shape and then let the collage table do the work. Children cut, layer, stick and cover until the shapes transform into something shimmering and full of life. Whales turn into tails, tails back into whales, and sometimes into something else entirely!
These shapes can then be collaged onto another sheet of painted paper so that the play continues, building whole underwater scenes where creatures and tails overlap, stack and swim across the page.
It's the act of shifting and layering that matters most, not the final form.
Variations
Cut the shapes larger than life out of cardboard so they grow into sculptures that take over the room.
String smaller tails together into a mobile that sways like they're swimming!
Materials
Cardboard or sturdy paper for whale and tail bases
Paint sticks, oil pastels, markers for bold colour
Tissue paper, shiny scraps, sparkly paper, washi tape
Foam stickers, sequins, glass pebbles for treasure details
Scissors
PVA or Elmer’s glue (stronger than sticks)
Optional extras such as cardboard offcuts for layering or large sheets of painted paper for building underwater scenes
Back to Top
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Thoughts?
Would love to hear if youv'e tried this or have any ideas on how to make it even better!
