How to Draw a Turtle Step-by-Step Printable for Kids

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Got a little artist at home who loves sea creatures? This step-by-step turtle drawing activity is a fun and creative way to help kids build drawing confidence while having a blast!

Draw a Turtle Step-by-Step

Looking for an engaging way to entertain your kids? This free How to Draw a Turtle printable is perfect for rainy days, homeschool art, or quiet afternoon fun!

With simple, easy-to-follow steps, kids will learn to draw a colorful turtle from start to finish—and have fun doing it!

What’s Included

This printable guide includes six clear steps for drawing a turtle. Inside the PDF, you’ll find:

🖍️ A black & white version
🎨 A colored version

Kids can choose which one they want to use!

How to Draw a Turtle

Step 1: Draw the Basic Body Shape

Draw the turtle’s shell by sketching a dome shape on top of a slightly curved oval to form the upper and lower parts of the shell.

Step 2: Add the Details

From the right side of the shell, draw a long curved neck ending in a rounded head with an open mouth.

Step 3: Add Design or Pattern Elements

Draw two front flippers near the middle and bottom of the shell. They should curve outward like paddles.

Step 4: Add Texture or Extra Detail

Inside the shell, draw a few hexagon shapes to create a shell pattern. Add a smaller flipper at the back of the turtle and include three small dots on each front flipper.

Step 5: Draw the Face or Key Feature

Add a large circle for the eye, with a smaller circle inside it. Fill in the pupil. You can also add a few more dots on the flippers for extra texture.

Step 6: Color Your Turtle

Suggested colors:

Green for the head, neck, and flippers
Brown for the shell
Black for the eye pupil

These steps are easy and approachable for kids of all ages! Whether your child is just starting to draw or already loves sketching animals, this printable will keep them happily engaged.

How to Print Your Drawing Page

Follow these simple steps to print your free How to Draw a Fish PDF:

Download the file — Click the link provided below.
Open the file — Make sure you have a PDF reader like Adobe Acrobat.
Choose your paper — Regular printer paper works great, or use cardstock for a more durable version.
Print and Enjoy — Grab crayons, markers, or colored pencils and start drawing!

Terms of Use

This printable activity is for personal use only. Print as many copies as you need for your kids, students, after-school groups, campers, church groups, etc.

Commercial use is not permitted. Please do not sell them, email them, share copies online, or distribute them in any way for any other purpose. If you’d like to share them, please send a link to this page.

Download Your Free Printable PDF

👉 Click here to download your free How to Draw a Turtle printable!

Did you enjoy this? I’d be so grateful if you left a comment below to let me know your thoughts! And the next time you need a free activity, browse all my free printables!