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by Jessica McBrayer
Topics: Second Grade, Arts and Crafts
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Carp have been bred throughout the ages for decorative gardens but are found all over the world in fresh water. The bright colors of carp, and especially goldfish and koi, liven up outdoor ponds and aquariums. 

This fishy activity combines cutting skills with lots of bright colors, recycled materials and learning about fish. In the end, your child will have a beautiful and glittering fish to hang in her bedroom.

What You Need:
  • Two large pieces of white construction paper or card stock – at least 8x10 or 11x17 if you have it.
  • Colorful tissue paper, construction paper, and/or magazine pictures
  • Scraps of tinfoil
  • Roll of crepe streamer or long strips of tissue paper
  • Yarn
  • Marker or crayon
  • Glue
  • Stapler
  • Hole punch
What You Do:
  1. Line up the two large pieces of construction paper together, cut them into a large fish shape and staple them together along the edges.
  2. Draw a mouth and an eye on each side.
  3. Cut "scales" out of tinfoil, magazine pictures, construction paper and tissue paper and glue them onto the body and tail of the fish.  Make sure to use a mix of media and sprinkle the tinfoil into it for a sparkly finish.
  4. Staple streamers of crepe paper or glue strips of tissue paper from the tail of the fish.
  5. Punch a hole in the mouth of the fish and attach yarn so that you can hang the fish up, with streamers hanging down from its tail.

Did You Know?

  • Carp can survive with low levels of oxygen, which helps them to survive in temperatures as low as 4 degrees Celsius.   
  • They eat algae from rocks, piers and off the bottoms of boats. 
  • Sometimes while they eat, you can hear them making a loud tapping noise.