Ocean Story Stick Puppets
Make Whale and Clownfish, add sticks, and give each character a voice.
Tell a story
You need: Paper, scissors, tape and two craft sticks.
Download packA4 + US Letter PDFs · 1 making sheet
Guide included; keep it on screen if you prefer.
Your printable pages
Print the making sheets single-sided at 100% / Actual size. Tap a page to look closer.
Make it, then try it
1. Cut your cast
Cut out Whale and Clownfish, leaving a small white border around their fins. The blank fish is optional: draw an extra character before cutting it out.
2. Turn the characters face down
Place a craft stick on the BACK of each character. Overlap at least 25 mm of stick with the broad body, not a fin or tail. Leave the lower end clear to hold.
3. Tape the sticks firmly
Use two strips of tape across each stick, spaced apart on the body. Press the tape onto the paper on both sides. Turn the puppets over and check neither character slips.
4. Start a little sea story
Hold a puppet in each hand or share with a partner. Whale has heard a strange sound; Clownfish knows where it comes from. Choose what they discover together.
Ocean puppet stories to play together
Use the whale and clownfish as two speaking characters. The blank fish on this ocean animal puppet printable leaves room for a character your child invents.
Follow a sound through the reef
Begin with: ‘I heard something behind the seaweed.’ One person moves Whale and asks what made the sound. The other answers as Clownfish. Take turns adding a clue, then decide together what the characters discover.
Introduce a new fish
Draw a face and pattern on the blank fish before cutting it out. Give it a name and something it is looking for. Add a third craft stick if it will be held separately, then let Whale and Clownfish offer two different ideas for helping.
Tell the same scene twice
Choose a simple scene, such as meeting a new neighbour. Play it once with one person as Whale and the other as Clownfish. Swap puppets and tell it again with a different ending. A folded scrap-paper backdrop is optional.
Questions before you make it
Which ocean animals are included in the puppet printable?
The making sheet includes a whale, a clownfish and an optional blank fish to decorate. Whale and Clownfish are already coloured. The blank fish is for your own character design.
How do I attach a craft stick to a paper puppet?
Place the stick on the back so it overlaps the animal's body by at least 25 mm. Tape across the join and check it before play. Keep the handle below the character where it can be held comfortably.
How many craft sticks do I need?
Use two sticks for Whale and Clownfish. You need a third stick only if you also make the blank fish into a separate handheld puppet. The pack contains paper templates, not sticks or tape.
Can I use these puppets without a puppet theatre?
Yes. Hold the puppets above a table edge, or simply face the two characters toward each other. A theatre or backdrop is optional; the story activities work with just the characters and their handles.
Can children draw their own ocean animal?
They can decorate the supplied blank fish before cutting. To add a different animal shape, draw it on a separate sheet and make another handle. Any extra shape is a separate addition, not another template included in this pack.
Digital assembly illustrations. Physical assembly and use have not yet been tested.