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My kids saw the movie Dolphin Tale, and they went through a mini obsession with dolphins. I love taking advantage of those when they are interested in a subject and diving into it. My kids had a blast learning about dolphins, so I wanted to share the resources we used. They wanted to know everything about dolphins, so this momma was online for a few days pulling it all together. I hope this dolphin unit study saves you some time! We have even more Homeschool Units for you to use as well, right here on the website.

This unit study is all about learning about dolphins! Even better, it includes two easy hands-on crafts to really engage your kids! #dolphins #unitstudy #homeschooling #frugalnavywife #learning #crafts #kids #printables #books | Homeschool | Learning About Dolphins | Book

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Learning about Dolphins with Let's Find Out Science Dolphin Talk Mini Unit

We love the let's read and find out book series. They have several stages for different ages, but there is so much info in the books paired with bright, colorful pictures. Here is how we turned the book Dolphin Talk into a whole unit on dolphins.

I have got two kids' dolphin crafts along with a printable I created and a bunch of other resources we used!

How many types of Dolphins are there?

There are around forty-nine different species of dolphins. Some of the more well-known types include the bottlenose dolphin, common dolphin, and spinner dolphin. They vary in size from just a few feet long to almost twenty feet long, and they can be found in waters all over the world.

Why are dolphins so smart?

Dolphins are considered to be some of the smartest animals in the world. Scientists believe that dolphins’ high level of intelligence is due to their advanced social structure and the fact that they are constantly learning from one another. Dolphins have also been known to use tools, solve puzzles, and even save humans from drowning.

Dolphin Printables

Dolphin Coloring Pages

Dolphin Facts for Kids

How long can a dolphin stay underwater?

Dolphins can stay underwater for about eight to ten minutes. They need to come up for air to breathe because they are mammals and need oxygen just like we do. Interestingly, dolphins have a “swim bladder” which helps them control their buoyancy in the water and stay submerged for extended periods of time.

Dolphin Paper Plate Puppet Craft

Puppets are a fun way for kids to act out the stories they read or to interact with others. This paper plate dolphin craft for kids is a simple way to learn about dolphins while having fun. You only need a few common crafting supplies, and when you are done kids can use their puppets in so many ways.

What you need to make the Dolphin Paper Plate Craft

Paper plate
Blue craft paint
Paintbrush
Scissors
Googly eye
Straw or woodcraft stick

Paper plate craft, blue paint, straw, paint brush and dolphin talk science book.

How to make a Paper Plate Dolphin

Paper plate painted blue with paintbrush.

Begin by applying a coat of blue craft paint to the paper plate. You only need to paint one side. Allow the paint to dry.

Blue paperplate dolphin craft. Purple scirrors

Once the paint is dry, cut out a simple dolphin shape. A curved body is all you need.
Using the remaining plate pieces, cut out some simple fins. You will need a fin for the back of the dolphin as well as tail fins.
Add a dab of glue to the back of a googly eye and press it to the face of the dolphin.

Now add the fins. A simple dab of glue will do the trick. Just dab and press to the top and end of the dolphin.
Add one last drop of glue to the back of the dolphin and press it to the craft stick or straw.

Once your dolphin is dry, it is ready to be used and displayed. It makes for a great reading buddy!

Yield: 1

Dolphin Paper Plate Craft

Dolphin paper plate craft is an easy and fun way to entertain your kids on a rainy day. This simple craft is perfect for any age and can be done in minutes. Your kids will love creating their own dolphin friend to play with.

Prep Time 2 minutes

Active Time 10 minutes

Additional Time 5 minutes

Total Time 17 minutes

Difficulty Simple

Estimated Cost Low

Materials

Paper plate
Blue craft paint
Googly eye
Straw or woodcraft stick
Glue

Tools

Scissors
Paint Brush

Instructions

Begin by applying a coat of blue craft paint to the paper plate. You only need to paint one side. Allow the paint to dry.
Once the paint is dry, cut out a simple dolphin shape. A curved body is all you need.
Using the remaining plate pieces, cut out some simple fins. You will need a fin for the back of the dolphin as well as tail fins.
Add a dab of glue to the back of a googly eye and press it to the face of the dolphin.
Now add the fins. A simple dab of glue will do the trick. Just dab and press to the top and end of the dolphin.
Add one last drop of glue to the back of the dolphin and press it to the craft stick or straw.
Once your dolphin is dry, it is ready to be used and displayed. It makes for a great reading buddy!

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Dolphin Clothespin Craft

Create this adorable dolphin clothespin craft to accompany your learning about dolphin-related texts and lessons. It is easy for kids of all ages and can be created in under 30 minutes using basic crafting supplies.

Related: Easy Popsicle Stick Crafts

What you need to make the Dolphin Clothespin Craft

Wooden clothespin
Blue craft paint
Paintbrush
Blue felt or craft paper
Craft glue
Pair of googly eyes

Items for clothes pin craft. Dolpin Talk Science book, blue paint, blue felt, googly eyes, paint brush, and clothes pin.

How to make the Dolphin Clothespin Craft

Clothes pin Painted Blue, blue paint, and paint brush.

Begin by applying two coats of blue craft paint to the wooden clothespin. Allow coats to dry in between applications.

While the paint dries, you can create the fins and tail of the dolphin. Using your felt or paper, cut out a small curved triangle for the fin, a pair of fins for the side, and a curved tail as shown. Just freehand these, as they don’t have to be perfectly symmetrical.

Add a dab of glue to the small fin and press it to the top of the clothespin.

Add a dab of glue to the side fins and tail and press to the clothespin as shown.
Take the eyes and dab some glue behind each, and press them to the top of the clothespin.

Once the glue is dry you can use your dolphin clip as a bookmark, as a clip to hold items together, or even as a puppet or reading buddy.