Here are some fun and easy Nautilus Submarine and Squid crafts for kids that will also get them excited by the classic story 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea.
Pretend Nautilus submarine on a merry-go-round in Paris
I have always loved the classic novel 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea by Jules Verne, and was excited to share this story my children during our recent trip to France. In Paris we loved riding a merry-go-round in the Nautilus submarine. The Nautilus was the name of the submarine that Captain Nemo commanded in the novel. The most memorable part of the novel for me was the attack of a giant squid! We also loved the Nautilus exhibit at Disneyland Paris. It had a cool steam-punk vibe, and out one of its portal windows you could see a giant squid coming to attack, just as in the book.
Nautilus Submarine and Squid Crafts:
Handprint and Footprint Art
This is so easy and fun to do with very young children. I used a mix of black and gold paint for the submarine as a footprint or double handprint, and red mixed with purple for the squid as a handprint. Then I used a black marker to outline the submarine, and had my children glue on the squid’s eye, the portal windows, and seaweed. I had one that is a childish looking rounded submarine, and then tried another with the more steam-punk angular design as from the 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea drawings.
Nautilus Drawing – Crayon Resist Watercolor
My oldest son wanted to get in on the Nautilus and squid craft action, but hand-prints and foot-print art felt too babyish. So he drew this beautiful drawing of the Nautilus submarine and squid, and then used blue watercolors to fill in the ocean water.
Here are more learning resources about 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea and Jules Verne:
- Jules Verne Biography
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea: Lesson Plan – Become a Fish researcher
- Family Book Club: 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea
- 20,000 Leagues – How to Draw the Nautilus Video
- 20,000 Leagues Under the Sea – cartoon video
Looking for more fun crafts for kids?
Here are more from Jo Jacks Travel:
Lotus Flowers
Rainbow Camel Caravan
Cave Painting for Kids
