Turtle Activities for Preschoolers with Worksheets and Crafts
Turtle activities for preschoolers are a great way to introduce early science concepts through fun, hands-on learning.
With crafts, games, and science worksheets for preschoolers, you can explore turtle anatomy, life cycles, and habitats in a way that keeps kids curious and engaged.
These turtle-themed ideas have been a favorite in our home—simple to prep, full of learning, and perfect for preschool and kindergarten ages.

**This post may contain affiliate links. As an Amazon Associate and a participant in other affiliate programs, I earn a commission on qualifying purchases.**
Turtle Activities and Worksheets for Preschoolers
These turtle activities cover everything from counting and tracing to life cycles and fine motor crafts.
Whether you’re planning a full turtle unit or just looking for a few themed printables, these hands-on ideas make learning about turtles both fun and meaningful.
This free coloring page is a great way to introduce young kids to how sea turtles grow and change. From hatching out of an egg to swimming in the ocean as adults, the stages are easy to follow and fun to color.
We’ve used this to spark conversations about animal life cycles and ocean conservation, and it pairs well with a short video or turtle book.
These five turtle-themed math pages are a hit for early learners. The numbers go up to 10, and each page features friendly turtle illustrations that make counting feel more like play.
We’ve used them during quiet time or alongside number songs, and the visual repetition really helps reinforce basic math concepts.
This printable helps preschoolers learn the basic parts of a sea turtle with coloring and labeling. It includes the shell, flippers, eyes, and more—perfect for an animal or ocean unit.
My son loved pointing out the different parts after we watched a sea turtle video, and this worksheet helped him retain what he learned.
This printable pack includes six pages that cover early literacy, numbers, and fine motor activities. There’s tracing, mazes, simple math, and coloring—all with adorable turtles throughout.
It’s great for mixed-skill practice and has worked well for us during morning table time or as a quiet choice during the day.
This printable scavenger hunt is perfect for a trip to the aquarium. It encourages kids to look for turtle-related items like shells or swimming sea turtles, turning a regular visit into a themed learning adventure.
We used it last time we went, and it made the experience more interactive and memorable.
This coloring page focuses on the letter T with a playful turtle illustration, along with other “T” words like tree and train.
It’s been a simple way to reinforce letter recognition and tie in our turtle theme. We’ve used it as a warm-up before diving into more structured reading work.
This set of sea turtle worksheets covers everything from basic anatomy to habitats and simple conservation ideas. They work well with turtle-themed books or toys to create a more immersive learning experience.
We’ve used these during ocean week, and they helped reinforce vocabulary and spark great follow-up questions.
This hands-on craft helps kids explore how sea turtles grow, using playdough to model each life stage. It’s a great way to make learning about animal development tactile and fun.
We used this during a unit on ocean animals, and it turned into a fantastic conversation starter about how baby turtles survive in the wild.
Kids can create their own turtle headbands using simple supplies like colored paper and glue. It’s easy enough for preschoolers and adds a fun dress-up element to turtle-themed lessons.
We used this for a pretend play session where the kids acted out being turtles—it was adorable and memorable.
This paper bag turtle puppet is a simple but creative activity that doubles as a literacy tool. After making the puppet, we used it during storytime to act out a short turtle tale.
It’s low-mess, budget-friendly, and perfect for adding a bit of drama to your preschool day.
This craft uses crumpled paper to create a textured turtle shell, making it a great fine motor activity for little hands.
It’s easy to customize with favorite colors and encourages a bit of creativity while staying on theme. We’ve used this during art time as a way to slow down and focus.
Turning egg cartons into turtles is a fun way to recycle and craft at the same time. Kids get to paint, glue, and decorate their turtle’s shell, adding personality with googly eyes and pom-poms.
We’ve made these during summer break, and they always end up in the “keep forever” craft box.
This printable unit includes visuals, facts, and activities that walk kids through the sea turtle life cycle in more depth. We used plastic turtle figures and posters alongside the worksheets for a full mini unit.
Great for tying together science, reading, and hands-on exploration.
This sea turtle paper craft is easy for preschoolers to follow, thanks to the included template. It's perfect for an ocean unit or quiet craft time.
We paired this with a read-aloud and used the finished turtles in a classroom display—they held up well and looked adorable.
Using pom poms, pipe cleaners, and cardboard, this craft helps preschoolers build a cute little turtle. It’s colorful, great for fine motor practice, and doesn’t require much prep.
We’ve done this one on rainy days when we needed something fun but low effort.
This paper plate turtle uses washi tape to create a unique shell texture while encouraging fine motor skills. The printable template makes it accessible even for younger kids. We liked this one for its open-ended design—each turtle looked totally different.
This creative activity uses dyed pasta and free templates for a fun turtle-themed craft. While the printable includes other animals too, we focused just on the turtle for our project. It’s great for sensory play and worked well as a group table activity.
This color wheel turtle craft teaches preschoolers about primary and secondary colors while letting them make something vibrant. The shell becomes a hands-on way to explore color blending, and the final result makes a bright addition to your classroom wall or fridge display.
With bubble wrap, paint, and a handprint cutout, this card is both personal and fun to make. It opens up so kids can write or dictate a message inside, which makes it a great gift idea too. We made these for Earth Day and talked about protecting turtles while we worked.
This 10-page printable set includes coloring pages, dot marker activities, cut-and-paste sheets, and more. It’s a great mix for fine motor skill building and creative fun. We’ve used this as part of our weekly animal themes—easy to prep, and the variety keeps kids interested.
Turn an egg carton into an adorable turtle with a bit of paint, pipe cleaners, and googly eyes. This one’s a favorite for combining crafting with a recycling lesson.
We’ve added names and turned them into “class pets” for pretend play, which extended the fun beyond craft time.
This simple origami project is a gentle intro to paper folding and spatial awareness. The finished turtle has a bit of 3D charm, and the instructions are beginner-friendly.
We used this as a calm-down activity and added eyes and a smile to personalize it.
Favorite Turtle Books and Games for Preschoolers
Add engaging turtle books for preschoolers to your storytime and introduce playful turtle games for preschoolers that encourage hands-on learning.
Below are a few favorites we’ve enjoyed that combine fun with educational value:
National Geographic Readers: Sea Turtles – A beginner-friendly nonfiction book with stunning photos and simple facts.
Little Turtle and the Changing Sea – A beautifully illustrated story that gently introduces ocean conservation.
Turtle Steps Balance Stepping Stones – A gross motor activity game that gets kids moving as they balance and hop across turtle shell-shaped stones, great for indoor or outdoor play.
Last Updated on 7 April 2025 by Clare Brown