A House for Hermit Crab Activities

The ocean is a vast and mysterious place. Come see it up close with your little ones in A House for Hermit Crab. We have fun and simple ways to extend understanding using our interactive A House for Hermit Crab activities below. And don’t forget – this is just one of many Eric Carle activities we have available for you!

A House for Hermit Crab Book

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A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle takes us on an underwater journey through the unique perspective of a hermit crab. He meets interesting friends to add to his plain shell and they spend the better part of a year creeping along the ocean floor together. Check out some of our engaging activities below for some reading fun with your little learners!

A House for Hermit Crab Activities

Decorate your Shell

Materials Needed: My Shell printable and any decorating supplies (crayons, colored pencils, markers, small stickers, etc.)

Have your kids pretend they are hermit crabs who have plain shells in need of a little decoration. Have them share with a partner or adult how they decorated their shell and why.

Sh- Word Work

Materials Needed: Objects that begin with the letters sh- AND/OR Sh-Word Work printable.

Find objects around your home or classroom that begin with the letters sh-. Say each word aloud together exaggerating the “shhhhhhhhh” sound. Use the Sh-Word Work printable to reinforce the sound, beginning with shell (in the story and on the printable).

A House for Hermit Crab Retelling

Materials Needed: Blue construction paper, retelling printable, decorating supplies (crayons, markers, paper)

After reading or rereading the book, have the children color and cut the characters from the story out. Retell the story together as they glue them on blue construction paper. Add the setting to your ocean scene using crayons, markers, and/or paper.  

Get Your A House for Hermit Crab Printables

Grab the A House for Hermit Crab printables as a thank you gift when you become a Growing Book by Book newsletter subscriber.

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More Eric Carle Activities

Check out more Eric Carle book activities.  Click on any of the links below.

The Very Busy Spider Activity

The Very Hungry Caterpillar Activities

The Grouchy Ladybug Activities

*Thank you to Katy from for creating this book list for Growing Book by Book. Katy Klimczuk is a mother of two little ones who lives with her family in the Detroit, Michigan area. She is a former elementary school teacher and literacy specialist who now works remotely as a book curator and blogger sharing her passion for early literacy. She can be found at Reading Lady Katy and on Instagram and Facebook @readingladykaty.