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Art · The activity desk

Shark shape swim

Draw a shark using simple shapes and give it an ocean to explore.

Let's play →

A little plan for play

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What you need

Paper and large child-appropriate crayons.

Age: 3–5 years; choose for the individual child.

Stay with the child throughout. Check the space and supplies, including anything within reach of younger siblings. Skip any activity that is unsuitable. Stop if a child puts non-food material in their mouth or becomes distressed. Use intact books, full sheets of paper, a large child-appropriate crayon and a clean, dry towel. Follow product labels; remove torn paper and keep broken crayons and caps away from children. Adult handles and stores supplies.

Set up: Sit together with paper on a flat surface.

Adult's role: Draw alongside the child and help with shapes if wanted.

Let's make it happen

  1. Draw a long oval with a pointed front for the shark's body.
  2. Add a triangle fin on top, a tail at the back, and an eye near the front.
  3. Draw waves or sea plants around the shark and tell a pretend swimming story.

Make it simpler: An adult draws the body and the child adds the eye and fins.

Clean up: Put away the paper and crayons.

Adult stays beside the child.

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