Ocean
Sensory Table
Ocean
In the texture table place sand, water, salt, food color, shells,
ocean animals, buckets and shovels.
Aquarium Rocks
Place a bag of clean aquarium rocks in the sensory table. Provide
cups, bowels, and pails for the children's use. Add water if desired.
Plastic Fish
Purchase small plastic fish and place in the sensory table with
water, strainers, and pails.
Plastic Boats
Place small plastic boats in a sensory table filled with water. Also
provide small plastic people to ride and fish in the boats.
*Math
Seashell Game
Need: smooth and rough seashells, tray
Collect ten or more seashells that have a variety of shapes and
textures. Divide a tray into two sections. Label one section
"smooth" and the other section "rough." Have
children feel the shells and sort them by texture. Children can also
sort the shells by shape or size. Contributed by: Sarah Longfellow
Ocean and Sky
Need: crayons and construction paper
Fold the construction paper in half lengthwise and draw a line with a
dark crayon on the fold line. Tell the children that the line is dividing the ocean from the sky. Ask the children to draw pictures of things they might find in the
sky above the line. Then have the children draw pictures of things they would find in the
ocean, below the line.
*Group Time
Sand Writing
Place a tray of sand in front of the children. With your finger,
write an alphabet letter in the sand. Ask the children to identify
the letter. When they have done so, smooth out the sand and write
another letter. Follow the same procedure for reviewing numbers and
shapes. Then let the children take turns writing letters, numbers and
shapes in the sand themselves.
Cross the Ocean Game
Need: small and large island shapes cut out of construction paper
Tape the construction paper island shapes to the floor. Tell the
children that the floor is the ocean. Ask them to cross the ocean by
stepping only on the island shapes.
Beach Party
Have an indoor beach party. Have children bring sunglasses, towels,
and appropriate beach wear. Play tunes such as the Beach Boys. Add
lemonade and popsicles to your snack time. If possibly when going
outside have beach balls, volleyball (over a short net or no net at
all), and Frisbee's.
*Science
Salty Ocean
Salty Ocean
Discuss with children that sea water is salty. Have two plastic
containers filled with water, and discuss how they are same. Show
children the salt.
Then add large amounts of salt to one of the containers and stir
until dissolved. Are they the same? Why or why not? Let the children
smell and taste the difference by pouring into small paper cups and
use coffee stirrers or craft sticks to taste.
Egg Float
Fill two containers with water; add generous amounts of salt to one
and stir until dissolved. Place a raw egg in each container. The egg
in the unsalted water should sink and the one in the salted water
should float.
Salt painting
Place salt in baggies and add food coloring to each baggie. Shake and
lay out to dry. Have children create an ocean scene by placing glue
on construction paper and sprinkling on different colors of salt.
Salt measuring
Place salt and assorted measuring spoons on the science table for
children to explore with.
*Snacks
Just For Fun!
Need: Two, 1/2 gal. pitchers, 1 pkg. sugar-free Ice-blue Koolaid
During our ocean unit for our drink at the party, I do this
"magic trick". Have two clear pitchers on a small table
where everyone can see. Previously empty into one pitcher the package
of Koolaid sugar-free Ice Blue Lemonade. Hold up the clear pitcher of
plain, cold water and instruct the children to say "Let the tide
roll in!" or something else very dramatic. Then pour the water
in, and voila! It turns a beautiful ocean blue, magically! This
always gets a lot of astonished gasps and hand claps, even though I
am sure most children have experienced Koolaid before! Contributed By: Beth Bennett
Fish Aquarium
Need: blue jello, gummy fish, clear cups.
Make blue jello and place in clear cups. Refrigerate until partially
set (about an hour). When the jello is partially set, place a few
gummy fish in each cup. Put the cups in the refrigerator until they
are completely set. Eat and enjoy!
Blue Ocean
Need: Blue Jello Jigglers in a 9x13 clear glass dish (do not cut)
Prepare Blue Jello Jigglers. Use pictures of objects, letters,
children's names, etc. Hold cards on the bottom of the dish so
children can look through the jello at the picture.
Recite rhyme:
Teacher&child - "John, John what do you see through the deep
blue sea?"
Child - "I see the letter J through the deep blue sea."
Have each child take a turn. Enjoy the Jello as snack when activity
is finished.
Contributed By: Lisa Y.
Sand Pudding
Need: vanilla pudding, graham crackers, gummy worms.
Make vanilla pudding and spoon into cups. Sprinkle graham cracker
crumbs on the top and have a gummy worm protruding from the pudding cup.
*Other Sites
ChildFun--
section of ocean activities.
Aquarium in
a bag idea from KinderArt Littles.
Ocean Coloring Book
Print
Comets Nine Lives Coloring page by Jan Brett.
Print beautiful
Sea Shell bookmarks from Comets Nine Lives by Jan Brett.
See Core Knowledge's page of Ocean
Ideas.
Click here to include your favorite ocean activity in this theme!
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