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Fish Print Tee Shirts

Goal, Objective or Purpose of Activity:

To make a tee shirt using fish and other marine shapes; explore and understand fish anatomy

Appropriate Age Level: 8+

Minimum/Maximum Number of Participants: 1+

Set-up Time Required: 30 minutes – 1 hour

Activity Time Required: 30 minutes – 1 hour

Space Requirements: classroom, picnic table or area that can get messy

Materials/Resources:

1. White Tee Shirts (have each participant bring their own)
2. Fabric paint suitable for rolling
3. Small rollers
4. Roller trays
5. Foam brushes
6. Fabric pens
7. Puffy paint
8. Sheets of cardboard (such as from the dry cleaners)
9. Newspaper
10. Cleaning supplies
11. Latex gloves
12. Old shirts for smocks if necessary
13. Whole fish (flat fish such as flounder work great), you can buy a rubber fish

Procedure for Teaching:

1. Buy several whole fish from the fish market. Try to get interesting shapes and sizes.
2. Have the children collect shells, and other interesting objects from the beach.
3. Protect the area with newspaper.
4. Spread the shirts out on a table or floor.
5. Place the cardboard inside each shirt.
6. Use newspaper if cardboard is not available.
7. Have sailors put on gloves and smocks if need be.
8. Roll paint onto the fish and other objects.
9. Press the fish onto the shirts. Use other objects and colors.
10. Complete shirt using puffy pens.
11. Let dry thoroughly.
12. Advise students to wash shirts separately. (Give note to bring home with shirt)
13. When done printing, dissect fish and examine it inside and outside.

Student Product:

• Cool fish print t-shirt

Extensions:

Contributor(s): Amy Kellogg, Junior Sailing Association of Long Island Sound