J is for Jellyfish Handprint Art | Letter J Fun

When we got to the letter J in our alphabet activities, the J is for jellyfish handprint was a fun way to mix art with learning.

My son enjoyed turning his painted hands into jellyfish tentacles, and I liked that it gave him extra practice with letter recognition while keeping things creative.

It’s an easy project to set up, and the mess is worth it for how engaged kids get.

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Handprint Jellyfish Art Printable

The letter handprint template is a playful way to introduce the letter J while letting kids get creative with paint.

My son always enjoyed the messy part, pressing painted hands onto cardstock to form the jellyfish tentacles, and watching the print come to life with a splash of color.

We used sturdy cardstock so the artwork wouldn’t wrinkle, and adding googly eyes made the jellyfish feel extra fun. A small paintbrush helps spread the paint evenly, and wipes nearby make cleanup quick.

Making Your Jellyfish

Start by printing the template on a full page and brushing paint onto your child’s hand.

Press it firmly onto the paper with fingers pointing downward to form the tentacles, then carefully lift their hand away to keep the shape clear.

Once the paint has dried, kids can color in the letter J, decorate the background with ocean details, and glue on googly eyes to bring their jellyfish to life.

That little step always gets a smile, it makes the jellyfish feel more like a character than just a craft.

This simple project doesn’t take long to set up, and it’s flexible enough to use at home or in a classroom when you want to mix alphabet practice with a bit of creativity.

More Fun Letter J Activities

If your kids are working on the letter J, here are a few more activities that pair nicely with the jellyfish handprint:

• Jellyfish worksheets – My son always liked these because they mix coloring with simple facts, a nice way to tie the craft to learning.
• Letter J coloring page – A quick, low-prep option when you just want something simple to reinforce the letter.
• Parts of a jellyfish worksheet – A gentle way to sneak in a bit of science by labeling tentacles and bell.

If your kids enjoy ocean-themed activities, try our free aquarium scavenger hunt, a fun way to explore sea life during your next visit.

Letter J Books for Preschoolers

Pair your jellyfish handprint craft with a storytime break. These books have been easy wins in our house when working on the letter J:

• Jump! – A silly, repetitive read-aloud packed with the /j/ sound. It’s easy for kids to join in, which makes it great for phonics practice.
• Jamberry – Rhythmic and colorful, this classic picture book is full of J words and a joy to read aloud.
• Jellyfish! – A simple nonfiction choice that ties in perfectly with the handprint craft for kids who want to learn more about real jellyfish.
• The Jungle Book: A classic tale that connects to the letter J through its title and jungle setting. I like using it as a way to mix letter recognition with a story that sparks imagination.

Get Your Free Letter J Handprint Template Here!

Get all the alphabet handprint printables here, or save big with our 52-page bundle, which includes alphabet coloring pages too!

Ready to grab your free printable? Just pop your name and email into the form below, and it’s all yours!

If you don’t see the form below, click here to get the free handprint template.

More Free Alphabet Printables

Keep the alphabet fun going with more free handprint templates:

• K is for kite handprint
• I is for ice cream handprint
• T is for tree handprint
• Q is for Queen handprint
• A is for apple handprint
• C is for crab handprint

You will also enjoy our free under the sea graphing worksheet, an engaging way to bring math and ocean exploration together.

Last Updated on 29 September 2025 by Clare Brown