A ferociously fun shark birthday party guide with games,decorations and party activities.
Take a bite out of party planning stress by purchasing Shark Party supplies from our on-line partner,Birthday in a Box. Then add the party games and activities below.
Personalized Shark Party Items
Shark Party Favors
NOTE: There is no longer a shark partyware pattern for plates, napkins etc. but adding the above personalized items, a blue and gray color scheme and the party decorating ideas below will certainly do the trick.
PARTY INVITATIONS
Send invitations 2-3 weeks before the party date.
Purchase personalized matching invitations, or make your own using
card stock paper. Cut 3x5 postcards from gray or blue cardstock paper.
Your computer will come in handy for shark clip art to add with a glue stick. Cut a semi-circle "shark bite" from the corner using pinking shears.
Write your party details with a gel pen.
SHARK PARTY DECORATIONS
Begin with basic party decorations; streamers, balloons, table ware etc.
Add more elaborate ocean themed decorations if you have the time...
- Make a sign for your entry "SHARK ZONE - Enter at your own risk!"
- Blue fabric hung from the walls and on the furniture will create your
ocean. Organza or other iridescent fabric is fun but can become costly.
- Use butcher paper and poster board to make seaweed, fish etc.
- Hang strips of streamers in varying length from the ceiling.
- Fill the ceiling with blue and green helium balloons.
- Hang paper sharks and fish from the ceiling as well.
Having these items hanging from the balloon covered ceiling will create
the illusion of being under water.
SHARK PARTY GAMES
Pin the Tail or Fin on the Shark
Play this game just like Pin the Tail on the Donkey
Use blue or gray poster board to make a shark without a tail or fin.
Then use the same color poster board to cut a tail or fin for each player.
At party time add double stick tape on the tail/fin pieces to play the game.
Who ever is closest wins!
We found a neat template on line that you can use to trace your shark!
Template will open a new window.
Shark Attack Games
One of our creative readers sent in these games, we thought they
were so easy you could play them both!
Shark Attack Game #1
With a permanent marker draw a basic shark face, with teeth on a white balloon. Players will stand in a circle. Play fun theme music while the children tap the shark balloon back and forth within the circle.
The players will try to keep the balloon away from themselves.
After bit of time, turn the music off. Whoever is touching the shark
when the music stops...is out. The last player is the winner.
Shark Attack Game #2
In this game the children are the sharks and fish at the same time!
Before the party inflate two balloons per child and tie a 12-18
inch piece of ribbon to the end of the balloons. To play, tape or tie
the balloons to both feet of each child. The object of the game is
to pop the other players balloons while still protecting your own.
The player/s with at least one remaining inflated balloon wins.
What Time is it Mr. Shark?
A shark twist on a traditional party game!
You'll need a reasonably large kid-safe place to play.
One child or adult is "Mr. Shark" and is positioned at one end of the
play area with his/her back turned. The other players (fish) stand at
the opposite end of the room. To play the children ask...
"What time is it Mr. Shark?" Mr. Shark replies for example, "Four O'clock".
The "fish" will take take four steps towards Mr. Shark. This continues until Mr. Shark changes his reply to "Dinner Time!" at which time he/she turns and runs to try and catch one of the fish. The captured child then becomes Mr. Shark. If the children reach Mr. Shark before he calls
dinner time, then the game is repeated with the same Mr. Shark.
Tip: Give the Mr. Shark player a hat with a dorsal fin for extra fun!
Feed the Shark
Cut a sharks mouth from the center of a large box. Don't forget to make jagged edges for the teeth. Paint the box gray. If you are particularly creative add eyes and gills as well. Purchase or make make bean bags.
The birthday party guests will take turns trying to feed the shark by
tossing the bean bags into the mouth from a reasonable distance.
Shark Aquariums
Make these ahead of time to give as a party favor.
If your guests are older, make them together as an activity.
You'll need:
small glass or plastic jars
water
blue and green food color
small shark toy
glitter (optional)
glycerin (just a dash per jar)
or vegetable oil
If you simply want to make an aquarium, place all of the above items
in the small jar except for the oil. The glycerin is not necessary,
but will cause the glitter to move slowly through the water.
Use rubber cement or hot glue (adult) to securely seal the outside
edges of the jar.
If you want to make "wave jars" replace the glycerin with the
vegetable oil. Fill 3/4 of the bottle with colored water and 1/4 oil.
Tip: if you are making the jars ahead of time add an extra seal
around the outside of the lid with epoxy glue or chalk.
UNDER THE SEA TREATS
Shark Punch
This refreshing drink has a surprise “bite” lurking just beneath the surface!
A day before the party, make shark ice cubes by freezing bite-sized gummy shark candies or fruit snacks in ice cube trays filled with water.
Then, prepare blue drink mix according to package instructions
(Kool-Aid® works well). Pour the blue drink into a punch bowl and
add 2 liters of ginger ale. When serving, place two or three shark
cubes in a tall, clear glass for each child and fill with punch!
Edible Aquariums
Each guest will get to eat their own personal aquarium!
Pour blue Jell-O into clear plastic cups and partially chill.
When the Jell-O is slightly thickened add a Gummi shark
and a few pieces of fruit by the foot or fruit leather
(seaweed - optional). Continue to chill until firm.
Before serving, top with a wave shaped whipped cream swirl.
Shark Cupcakes
Make simple shark cupcakes by adding a gummi shark to the top of
a blue frosted cupcake.
Personalized Shark Party Items
Shark Party Favors
Related Links:
Party Supplies
Big List of Kid's Birthday Parties
Party Games
Birthday Party Home Page
AmazingMoms Home
