Shark Week Activities SEL Craft: A Fun Way to Talk About Good Choices

Make SEL fun with this shark craft activity! Children sort good and not-so-good choices while building self-control, kindness, and expected behaviour skills.

Looking for a hands-on social-emotional learning activity that children will actually want to complete? This shark SEL craft is a playful way to start conversations about expected behaviours, kind choices, and thinking before acting.

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Children create a friendly shark with a wide open mouth, then sort behaviour fish into two groups. The “not-so-good choices” are fed to the shark’s mouth, while the “good choices” swim safely in the coral reef. It gives young learners a clear visual for an important idea: our choices can help people feel safe, respected, and ready to learn.

This activity works especially well after reading a shark-themed picture book, during Shark Week, or as part of a classroom behaviour lesson. It is also a lovely low-pressure option for small groups, school counselling sessions, special education classrooms, and calm-down corners.

As children sort each fish, invite them to explain their thinking. You might ask:

Is this choice safe or unsafe?
How could this choice make someone else feel?
What could we do instead?
Where would this fish belong?

The craft includes a large shark, colourful fish choice cards, a coral reef sorting area, and a simple “I Think Before I Chomp” message to reinforce self-control. Once finished, display it on a classroom wall as a cheerful reminder that good choices help everyone have a better day.

What’s Included in the Shark SEL Craft

Your download includes everything you need to prepare this activity:

Large shark craft template
Coral reef “Good Choices Swim Here” sorting mat
Good-choice and not-so-good-choice fish cards
“I Think Before I Chomp” heading
Easy teacher directions

Print the pieces on cardstock, cut out the fish cards, and let children sort, discuss, and glue. For a reusable centre activity, laminate the shark and reef mat and add Velcro dots to the fish.

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