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Make a Fish from Recycled Plastic Bottle

With just a plastic bottle or two, you can add a touch of the tropics to your room!

Average Rating:	1 2 3 4 5
Participant Age:	7 to 12, Under 7, 12 and up
Approximate Cost:	Under $10
Duration:	1 to 60 minutes, Over an hour
Difficulty:	1 2 3 4 5
Physical Challenge:	1 2 3 4 5

Plastic water or soda bottles
Glue
Google Eyes
Nail
Acrylic paint
Paintbrushes
Scissors
Stapler
Fishing line or nylon thread

Clean and cut your bottle
Remove the cap and label from an empty, clean bottle. With an adult's help, cut the bottom off the bottle.

Create a way to hang up your fish
Get an adult to help you punch a hole with a small nail in the top of the "head" of your fish. Poke a long piece of fishing line or nylon thread through the hole and tie a knot on the inside end.

Shape your fish
Pinch the open end of the bottle so the two sides meet and staple them together in the middle. Cut out fins and a tail around the staples, as shown.

Paint a design on your fish
Paint colorful fish patterns on the bottle. Once the paint has dried, glue on wiggly eyes. Now hang your fish up. Or make some more and turn them into a mobile!

Craft by Michele Reyzer. Originally appeared in the July 2005 issue of Ranger Rick magazine.

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