Ever watched a tiny hermit crab scuttle across the sand, carrying its borrowed home?

Eric Carle’s charming picture book, “A House for Hermit Crab,” brings this interesting phenomenon to life with colorful illustrations and a heartwarming story about a little hermit crab who outgrows his shell and finds a new one to decorate.

From crafting colorful shells to exploring marine habitats, this guide offers the best of a house for hermit crab activities.

These hands-on activities will delight curious minds while teaching valuable lessons about growth, change, and adaptation.

Creative Activities Inspired by A House for Hermit Crab

Parents and educators will find these— a house for hermit crab activities simple to set up with materials they likely already have on hand, and kids will love making tangible connections to their new favorite crustacean friend.

1. Make Your Own Hermit Crab Shells

Clay Hermit Crab Homes:

• Roll air-dry clay into a ball, then create an opening with your thumb
• Shape into a spiral shell form
• Add texture using toothpicks or pencil ends
• Allow to dry completely before painting

2. Shell Painting and Decorating

Change plain seashells into art pieces:

• Use acrylic paints on clean shells
• Add dots, patterns, and colors inspired by Carle’s illustrations
• Attach small decorations with glue to mimic the book’s adorned shell

3. DIY Hermit Crab Puppets

Storytelling comes alive when children create their hermit crab puppets. These simple puppets help kids retell the story and even create their own hermit crab adventures.

Sock Puppet Version:

• Use an old sock (brown or tan works best).
• Glue on googly eyes and pipe cleaners for antennae.
• Create a paper or felt shell that attaches with velcro.
• Kids can “change shells” just like in the story!

Paper Bag Puppet:

• Turn a small paper bag upside down.
• Draw or glue on crab features on the bottom flap.
• Decorate a separate paper shell that fits over the bag.
• Use craft sticks attached to the bottom for puppeteering.

4. Observation and Drawing

Scientific illustration helps children develop close observation skills and attention to detail.

Drawing setup:

• Provide magnifying glasses and shells or images of hermit crabs
• Offer drawing paper and colored pencils
• Display the book’s illustrations for inspiration

Guided observation prompts:

• “Can you count how many spirals are on this shell?”
• “What colors and patterns do you notice?”
• “How does the opening of the shell look compared to the pointed end?”

Journal option: Create a “Hermit Crab Research Journal” where children record observations through drawings and dictated notes.

5. Shell Treasure Hunt

This scavenger activity builds problem-solving skills while creating excitement around finding the perfect shell:

Indoor option:

• Hide paper or plastic shells throughout a room.
• Provide clues appropriate to children’s age level.
• Include a treasure map with picture clues for pre-readers.
• Hide a special “golden shell” as the grand prize.

Outdoor version:

• Hide shells in a sandbox or playground area.
• Give children small buckets to collect their findings.
• Provide a checklist of different shell types to find.
• Discuss why certain shells might be better hermit crab homes than others.

6. Create a Hermit Crab Comic Strip or Play

Comic options:

• Show what happens after the book ends.
• Create a new hermit crab story.
• Use pre-drawn templates for younger children.

Play elements:

• Simple shell costumes from cardboard
• Character headbands for sea creatures
• Narration that involves multiple children

7. Building Sandcastles with Shell Decorations

This classic beach activity gets a hermit crab-inspired upgrade, blending imaginative play with natural materials:

Basic supplies:

• Buckets and shovels
• Spray bottle with water for sand-strengthening
• Collected shells, seaweed, and beach treasures

Construction ideas:

• Create a “hermit crab kingdom” with shell-lined pathways
• Build a sandcastle with specially designated “shell rooms.”
• Dig moats that represent the tide pools where hermit crabs live

Storytelling element: Encourage children to create stories about the hermit crabs who might live in their sand creations.

Hosting a Hermit Crab Theme Party or Classroom Event

A themed celebration centered around “A House for Hermit Crab” provides the perfect culminating activity after exploring the book.

Whether for a birthday party, classroom event, or family gathering, these hermit crab-inspired ideas create memorable experiences while reinforcing the story’s messages about growth, friendship, and adaptation.

To Conclude

The thrills of Eric Carle’s hermit crab open countless doorways to learning!

These engaging – A House for Hermit Crab activities offer something for every child’s interest and learning style.

Don’t feel limited to just one type of activity. The beauty of these hermit crab adventures lies in how they naturally flow between art, science, literacy, and play.

Have you tried any of these – A House for Hermit Crab activities with your little ones?

We’d love to hear which ones sparked the most joy and learning in your home or classroom!