Koi fish are such a beautiful symbol to explore with kids, especially around Lunar New Year. This easy paper craft turns a simple toilet paper roll into a bright, cheerful koi fish, making it a fun project for the new year while also giving children a chance to learn about symbolism, art, and creativity. It’s a hands-on way to celebrate the year ahead, using everyday materials like paper, paint, and card, while creating something colorful that kids are genuinely proud of.
This koi fish craft for kids works well as a standalone art activity, a Lunar New Year project, or even as part of a broader fish art craft theme. Whether you’re crafting at home, in a classroom, or as part of a cultural learning week, this is a koi fish paper craft that feels special without being complicated.
Koi Fish Symbolism and the Lunar New Year
Koi fish are deeply symbolic in Chinese culture and are often associated with the new year. They represent perseverance, determination, and good fortune.
One of the most well-known legends tells the story of koi fish swimming upstream and leaping over the Dragon Gate, transforming into dragons after overcoming challenges. Because of this, koi fish are linked with growth, success, and starting a new year with strength and hope.
During Lunar New Year, koi fish imagery is especially meaningful because water is connected with wealth and abundance. A koi fish craft easy enough for kids to make can still carry these big ideas, helping children understand that the new year is a time for fresh starts, trying again, and believing in themselves.
This also makes koi fish art a lovely way to combine storytelling, culture, and creativity in one simple project.
Outside of Chinese New Year, koi work well for a few other festivals and themes too. They also tie in nicely with spring themes, as koi symbolize renewal and growth, which matches the seasonal shift after winter.
Koi are also strongly associated with Children’s Day in East Asian cultures and with ideas around learning, effort, and growing stronger over time. That makes them great for classroom crafts linked to perseverance, goal setting, or “trying your best,” even outside of this specific holiday.
Koi Fish Make a Great Art Project for Kids
Koi fish art projects are incredibly versatile. Children can experiment with koi fish designs, patterns, and colors while practicing fine motor skills like cutting, gluing, and drawing scales. This project works with paint, markers, or even black and gold pens for a bold look, making it adaptable for different ages and settings.
Because this is a koi fish craft with paper and cardboard tubes, it’s easy to turn into a full lesson or keep it relaxed and creative. You can talk about Chinese koi fish drawings, compare different koi fish tails, experiment with different designs for your scales or even display the finished fish as part of a fish mobile craft.
It’s also a great alternative to more complex art koi projects, as it keeps things approachable while still looking impressive.
How to Make a Toilet Paper Roll Koi Fish
This koi fish paper craft uses simple materials you probably already have at home or in the classroom. You’ll need a toilet paper roll, colored paper or paint, card for the fins and tail, glue, scissors, and optional markers or pens for adding details.
You don’t need a koi fish craft template or koi fish craft printable for this craft, as you can quite easy draw the koi fish tail and fin shapes freehand. If you’re making with a large group of kids you could prepare these ahead of time if you prefer, or let each child draw and cut out their own shapes as they go.
Below is the step by step guide showing exactly how to make your koi fish from start to finish.
How to Make a Koi Fish Craft
How to Make a Koi Fish Craft
A bright and easy koi fish paper craft that turns a simple toilet paper roll into a colorful Lunar New Year art project kids will love. This hands-on koi fish craft is perfect for exploring symbolism, creativity, and fine motor skills using everyday materials like paper, paint, and card.
Materials
- Toilet paper rolls (one per fish)
- Colored paper or cardstock
- Scrap paper for fins and tail
- Glue or glue stick
- Scissors
- Paint or markers
- Gold pen for scales (acrylic paint brush marker work perfectly for this)
- Googly eyes
- Optional - Black marker or pen for details
Instructions
- Pinch one end of the toilet paper roll to form the koi’s open mouth. Press the top and bottom in, with two little folded corners at the sides as shown
- Paint the toilet paper roll in your chosen color, or wrap the roll in colored paper (or paint it), then add the koi scales. You can make the scales drawn as repeating scallop shapes with a metallic gold marker.
- Cut out the fish parts from cardstock. Make one large tail piece and two smaller side fins, then decorate them with simple lines (again, the gold marker looks great for this).
- Cut a thin strip of red paper to create the mouth “lip” around the opening. You only need a strip long enough to wrap around one end of the roll.
- Glue the tail piece onto the back end of the roll. Add glue to the base of the tail and press it onto the roll where you want the tail to sit.
- Hold the tail in place while it dries and add the eyes. A clip works perfectly to keep the tail secure, then stick on two googly eyes near the front.
- Glue on one of the side fins. Place it low on the side near the mouth area, angled slightly backward like it’s swimming.
- Finish assembling the koi by adding the second side fin and checking the shape. Adjust the mouth opening if needed so it looks nice and wide, and make sure everything is firmly stuck down.
- Make more koi in different colors and patterns. The example shows how you can switch up the body color and markings to create a whole little school of koi.
- Your koi fish is finished and ready to display.
Once the koi fish are assembled, it’s fun to line them up together and see how different they all look. Changing colors, scale patterns, or fin shapes makes each fish feel unique, even when everyone follows the same steps. This is a great moment to talk about how koi fish art often features variation and personal style, just like kids’ own creativity.
More Lunar New Year Crafts for Kids
If you enjoyed this koi fish craft, there are so many other Lunar New Year craft ideas you can explore with kids. From paper lanterns and dragon crafts to zodiac animals and more chinese craft inspired decorations, these activities help children connect art with cultural traditions in a meaningful way.
- Paper Plate Chinese Lantern Craft for Chinese New Year
- Paper Cup Chinese Dragon Craft
- Chinese New Year Shaker
- Recycled TP Roll Chinese Lanterns for Chinese New Year
More Fish Crafts for Kids
If your kids enjoyed making these colorful koi fish, there are so many other fun fish craft ideas to explore. From simple paper fish and fish mobiles to painted fish art projects, these activities are a great way to keep the creativity flowing while building fine motor skills and confidence with scissors, paint, and paper.
- Fine Motor Fish Collage
- Easy Paper Plate Fish Craft
- Watercolor Paper Bag Jellyfish Craft
- Beautiful Hydrodipped Starfish Craft for Summer
If you found this project helpful, please consider sharing this blog post with other parents, teachers, or caregivers. It really helps more kids discover fun, creative ways to learn through crafts and art
Anna Marikar, mum of four and seasoned blogger, has spent over a decade sharing her parenting journey and passion for kid-friendly crafts and free printables.
Her easy-to-follow craft ideas and practical parenting advice have transformed In The Playroom into a cherished resource for parents.