This starfish cut and paste craft is a simple ocean activity for preschoolers and kindergartners. Kids cut out the pieces, follow the picture directions and glue together their own starfish, no reading required.
It’s great for an ocean unit, a summer afternoon or a quiet table activity, and it sneaks in a lot of scissor practice along the way.
How to Make the Starfish Cut and Paste Craft
Starfish Cut and Paste Craft printable
Get the printableScissors
Glue stick
Crayons or markers (for the black and white version)
Cardstock (optional, for a sturdier starfish)
Print the template
Print the color template, or the black and white one if your kids want to color their own starfish.
Color the pieces
If you’re using the black and white version, let kids color the pieces before they cut. Spots, stripes and rainbow starfish are all welcome.
Cut out the pieces
Kids cut out each piece. Younger kids can cut loosely around the shapes, or you can pre-cut the trickiest parts.
Follow the picture directions
Use the picture directions to glue the starfish body to the paper, then add the tube feet and eyes one step at a time. Each step has a picture, so kids who can’t read yet can follow along on their own. (Those little circles are the starfish’s tube feet, a fun fact to share!)
Write about it
Finish with the writing pages: “I like starfish because…” and “Starfish are special because…” Little ones can dictate and you write.
✂️ For new cutters
Draw a thick line around each shape for kids to follow, and remind them to turn the paper, not the scissors. Sequencing cards make a great follow-up: mix them up and have kids put the steps back in order.
Starfish Facts for Kids
Pair the craft with a few fun facts. Kids are always surprised by these:
- Starfish aren’t fish. That’s why scientists call them sea stars. They’re related to sea urchins and sand dollars.
- Most have five arms, but some kinds have 10, 20 or even more.
- They can regrow lost arms. It takes a long time, but the arm grows back.
- They have an eye spot at the end of each arm. It can’t see details, but it can tell light from dark.
- They walk on hundreds of tiny tube feet underneath their arms.
- They don’t have blood. Seawater moves through their bodies instead.
More ocean cut and paste crafts
Get the whole set →
Doing a whole ocean unit? The Ocean Cut and Paste Crafts Bundle has every ocean animal in this series for less than buying them one at a time.
Want to go deeper? The starfish animal study pairs a real photo with kid-friendly facts and simple writing practice.
Starfish craft includes
- Craft template in color and black and white
- Supply list
- Step-by-step picture directions
- 8 sequencing cards
- 2 writing pages
- Instant PDF download, nothing is shipped
Perfect for
- Ocean and summer units
- Preschool and kindergarten
- Fine motor centers
- Special education and OT
- Homeschool
Starfish Craft FAQ
It’s made for preschool through first grade, about ages 3 to 6. Younger kids may need help cutting.
No. The directions are all pictures, so non-readers can follow each step.
Yes. The template comes in color and black and white, so kids can color their own starfish.
Starfish aren’t fish, most have five arms, they can regrow lost arms and they have an eye spot at the end of each arm.
Do the craft, read a few starfish facts together, then use the sequencing cards and writing pages to retell how they made it.
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Did you try it? Tell us how it went!
We love seeing these activities out in the wild: the lumpy letters, the snack breaks, the proud “I made a B!” moments. Leave a star rating, tell other parents what worked (and what totally didn’t), and add a photo of your setup if you’d like.
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