Seashell clipart & coloring pages
Seashells capture the imagination of everyone with their diverse shapes, sizes, and colors. Beyond their beauty, sea shells serve as windows into the world of marine life, offering countless opportunities for creativity and learning.
Below we have collected lots of fun seashell clipart, coloring pages, crafts and other learning activities in the spirit of this beach-y theme.
What you'll find here
ToggleAll about seashells
Where do seashells come from?
Seashells are the abandoned homes of sea creatures called mollusks. They dot our beaches with their intricate patterns and designs.
Shells find their way onto our shores through the natural movements of the ocean, including tides and currents.
As tides rise and fall, they carry shells from the sea floor to the beach.
What is a seashell?
Seashells are hard, cozy homes where sea creatures called mollusks live.
They are formed by mollusks as they grow, layer by layer, creating a hard protective exterior.
When these sea animals finish using them, their shells wash up on the beach for us to find.
Types of seashells
There are many kinds of seashells — from the smooth, spiral shells of conches to the ridged, fan-shaped scallop shells.
Each shell’s color, texture, and shape are influenced by the mollusk’s diet, the environment in which it lived, and how it protected itself from predators.
VIDEO: “What Do You Hear in a Seashell?”
Fun facts about seashells
- If you put a shell close to your ear, you might hear what sounds like the ocean — but it’s actually an echo!
- The biggest shell ever found was bigger than a grown-up and weighed as much as a small car.
- Shells grow just like you do, getting bigger as their sea creature gets bigger.
- If you have a bunch of shells, you’ve got a “flutter” of them.
- Some shells twist to the right and some to the left, which is pretty rare and cool.
- The color of a shell can tell you about the sand it lived in and how deep in the ocean it was.
- Collecting shells has a fancy name: conchology.
- People used to use shells as money to buy things.
- The Queen Conch’s shell is famous for its pretty pink inside and can be as big as a school backpack!
- Shells are made of the same stuff as chalk and the limestone rocks you see in nature.
Seashell craft ideas
Finding seashells is just the start! You can use these sea treasures to make all sorts of fun things that remind you of the beach and bring a bit of the ocean into your home.
- Seashell photo frames: Take a plain frame and glue seashells all around it. You can even paint the shells to make them super colorful. It’s a fun way to show off your favorite photos and keep your beach memories close.
- Decorative shell candles: Drop some small shells into a glass jar, pour in some melted wax, and add a candle wick. When you light the candle, you’ll see the shells shine!
- Shell wind chimes: Make a musical instrument with the sea! Drill tiny holes in different shells, tie them to a stick or driftwood, and hang it up. When the wind blows, you’ll hear the gentle sounds, just like the ocean talking to you.
- Personalized shell jewelry: Turn small shells into jewelry, like necklaces or bracelets. It’s a fun way to display your beach adventures and show them off to your friends.
- Mosaic shell art: Create a picture with shells of different colors and sizes on a wooden base. You can make designs, shapes, or even spell out something special.
Seashell learning activities
Besides being fun to craft with, seashells are also a great tool for learning!
- Sorting and categorizing: You can sort shells by how big they are, their colors, or what kind they are. It’s a fun way to notice all the little details and learn about organizing things.
- Shell scavenger hunt: Make a list of different shells to find at the beach or in a collection. It’s like a treasure hunt, but with shells!
- Shell-inspired storytelling: Pick a shell and come up with a story about the creature that lived inside. Was it an adventurous explorer or a shy sea creature? You’re the storyteller!
- Measuring and comparing: Use shells to learn about size and numbers. See which ones are bigger or smaller, and use them for easy adding and subtracting.
- Science diary: Keep a notebook about all the shells you collect. Write down where you found them, what they look like, and any cool facts you learn.
- 【Drawing and Crafts Activity Set】The set includes 8 shells of various sizes and a variety of paints, providing ample space for painting. It caters to all your shell painting needs....
- 【Educational Learning Toy】The crafting activities are incredibly useful tools for children's learning. As a STEAM activity, these drawing activities not only help children develop...
- 【Joy of Drawing】Drawing is an incredibly enjoyable activity, and drawing on shells adds a unique twist. It allows children to create their own magical world and unlocks the doors to...
- 【Endless Creativity Artwork】Children can stick diamond decorations or DIY various small accessories on the shells, creating special and shiny shell artworks. The natural shells have...
Seashell coloring pages & line art
Hawaiian man blowing a conch shell as a horn
Beachcombers: People looking for shells on the beach
Colorful seashell clipart
Books about seashells
Want to learn even more about seashells? Check out some of these awesome books! Reading together can make you a seashell expert.
- Hardcover Book
- Scales, Helen (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 48 Pages - 06/15/2022 (Publication Date) - Phaidon Press (Publisher)
- Panlasigui, Stephanie (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 148 Pages - 04/11/2023 (Publication Date) - Adventure Publications (Publisher)
- Stewart, Melissa (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 03/27/2020 (Publication Date) - Charlesbridge (Publisher)
- Zoehfeld, Kathleen Weidner (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 08/04/2015 (Publication Date) - HarperCollins (Publisher)
- Used Book in Good Condition
- Berkes, Marianne (Author)
- English (Publication Language)
- 32 Pages - 02/01/2002 (Publication Date) - Dawn Publications (Publisher)