Design Your Own Aquarium – Creative Drawing Worksheet

Design Your Own Aquarium – Creative Drawing Worksheet

Imagine having your very own underwater world—filled with colourful fish, swaying plants, mysterious shells, and maybe even a hidden treasure! The “Design Your Own Aquarium” worksheet invites kids to create their dream aquarium, choosing what lives inside, how it looks, and what magical features it might have. It’s a fun way to blend creativity, art, and a little bit of science.

What’s Inside

• A blank aquarium tank outline with substrate (sand/gravel) at the bottom and some basic elements like plant/seaweed and maybe a shell.

• Empty space inside the tank for children to draw fish, plants, coral, decorations, sea creatures etc.

• Simple outlines so kids can colour and add their own details.

• Enough room for imagination: children can design realistic aquariums or fantasy ones (glowing fish, underwater castles etc.).

Why It’s Useful for Kids / Classrooms / Homeschool

• Creativity & Design Thinking: Kids make choices about what animals/plants go in, colour schemes, layout of elements.

• Science & Nature Learning: Opportunity to talk about aquatic life, habitats, what fish need to survive (plants, water, light, shelter).

• Fine Motor Skills & Art: Drawing small fish, details in plants, textures in substrate etc. helps with precision and observation.

• Calming / Therapeutic: Aquatic themes often evoke calm, and designing underwater scenes can be soothing.

• Adaptive for Age Levels: Younger children can use basic shapes and colours; older kids can do more detail, realistic illustrations, maybe research a fish species to include.

How to Use It (Tips & Suggestions)

1. Materials & Setup

   • Print the worksheet on good quality paper.

   • Gather art supplies: coloured pencils, markers, perhaps metallic or glitter pens if wanting to add “magic” (glow, bubbles etc.).

2. Warm-Up / Discussion

   • Start by discussing what makes an aquarium: what fish live in it, what plants or decorations, how to care for water and animals.

   • Show photos or videos of aquariums for inspiration (marine, freshwater, fantasy).

3. Design Phase

   • Encourage children to plan their design: pick fish species, plants, background elements (rocks, coral, shells).

   • Then fill in the aquarium—draw fish, plants, background etc. and use colour creatively.

4. Reflection & Storytelling

   • After finishing, ask: Which fish/plant are you most proud of drawing? What’s special about your aquarium?

   • Could include a writing prompt: “If you lived in this aquarium, what would you see every day?”

5. Variations / Extensions

   • Older kids: research real fish species to include—draw them accurately and include their name or care needs.

   • Use for cross-subject work: combine with a science lesson about ecosystems, water cycles, adaptation of fish.

   • Turn it into a group project: each student designs one part of a large class aquarium mural.

Bring the magic of the sea into your own artwork! Print the “Design Your Own Aquarium” worksheet, pick your colours, imagine your favourite creatures, and make an underwater world that’s all your own. Colour it, share it, and dive into creativity!