Ocean Unit
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Fish Eyes by Lois Ehlert
Big Al by Andrew Clements
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
Crinkleroot's 25 Fish Every Child Should Know by Jim Arnosky
Just Grandpa and Me by Mercer Mayer
The Rainbow Fish by Marcus Pfister
Fish Eyes by Lois Ehlert
Big Al by Andrew Clements
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
Crinkleroot's 25 Fish Every Child Should Know by Jim Arnosky
Just Grandpa and Me by Mercer Mayer
Books
Ocean Math Activities
Graph Favorite Ocean Animal
Have the children decide on their favorite ocean animal. Give each
child a paper fish and let them place it under their favorite. (sharks,
whales, seahorse, octopus, etc.)
After the graph is complete, have the children interpret the graph.
(What is the favorite ocean animal? least favorite? How many in all?)
Goldfish cracker addition and subtraction
Use goldfish crackers as manipulatives for the children to make up
word problems. ie, 3 goldfish were swimming and they saw 2
beautiful goldfish swimming nearby. The 3 goldfish asked the 2
goldfish to swim with them. Now how many goldfish are swimming
together? Have the children record their equations.
Fish Estimation
Fill a fish bowl or jar with gummy fish or goldfish crackers. Let
each child estimate how many fish are in the bowl. Record their
estimations. As a group count the fish. Discuss the number of fish
in the bowl. Enjoy eating the fish!
Hungry Shark Ocean Concentration
Provide matching pictures of ocean animals. Have the children lay
the cards face down and take turns finding matches. Have 1 shark.
The child that finds the shark card gets an extra turn each time until
the game is over.
Have the children decide on their favorite ocean animal. Give each
child a paper fish and let them place it under their favorite. (sharks,
whales, seahorse, octopus, etc.)
After the graph is complete, have the children interpret the graph.
(What is the favorite ocean animal? least favorite? How many in all?)
Goldfish cracker addition and subtraction
Use goldfish crackers as manipulatives for the children to make up
word problems. ie, 3 goldfish were swimming and they saw 2
beautiful goldfish swimming nearby. The 3 goldfish asked the 2
goldfish to swim with them. Now how many goldfish are swimming
together? Have the children record their equations.
Fish Estimation
Fill a fish bowl or jar with gummy fish or goldfish crackers. Let
each child estimate how many fish are in the bowl. Record their
estimations. As a group count the fish. Discuss the number of fish
in the bowl. Enjoy eating the fish!
Hungry Shark Ocean Concentration
Provide matching pictures of ocean animals. Have the children lay
the cards face down and take turns finding matches. Have 1 shark.
The child that finds the shark card gets an extra turn each time until
the game is over.
Ocean Art Activities
We begin our Ocean unit by reading"The
Magic School Bus, On the Ocean Floor,"
by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. The
children then create an ocean mural.
Magic School Bus, On the Ocean Floor,"
by Joanna Cole and Bruce Degen. The
children then create an ocean mural.
Ocean Mural - Hang dark blue bulletin board paper on
the wall for the ocean floor and lighter blue above. Have
the children paint on seaweed and corals. The children then
add sea animals to the mural. We have sea animal sponge
cutouts and pictures of ocean animals that the children
colored with markers. Title the mural, "Under The Sea."
the wall for the ocean floor and lighter blue above. Have
the children paint on seaweed and corals. The children then
add sea animals to the mural. We have sea animal sponge
cutouts and pictures of ocean animals that the children
colored with markers. Title the mural, "Under The Sea."
Aquariums
Paper Plate Aquariums
Each child will need 2 paper plates. Cut the center out of one of the paper
plates. Trace around the center circle on blue construction paper. Glue the
blue circle to the other paper plate. Add fish stickers or pictures to the blue
circle. Add glitter to the bottom of the ocean circle. Cover the ocean scene
with blue plastic wrap. Glue both paper plates together.
Wax Paper Aquariums
Have the children draw and cut out different ocean animals, plants, seaweed,
and corals. Provide each child with two pieces of wax paper. Have them
arrange their sea life pictures on one piece of the wax paper. Sprinkle different
colored crayon shavings to the ocean scene. Place the other piece of wax paper
over the ocean scene. Using a warm iron, melt the crayon pieces and seal the
wax paper. Add construction paper strips around the edges. Hang in a window
so the the light can shine through!
www.thelearningleap.com
Paper Plate Hermit CrabsI
Paper Plate Aquariums
Each child will need 2 paper plates. Cut the center out of one of the paper
plates. Trace around the center circle on blue construction paper. Glue the
blue circle to the other paper plate. Add fish stickers or pictures to the blue
circle. Add glitter to the bottom of the ocean circle. Cover the ocean scene
with blue plastic wrap. Glue both paper plates together.
Wax Paper Aquariums
Have the children draw and cut out different ocean animals, plants, seaweed,
and corals. Provide each child with two pieces of wax paper. Have them
arrange their sea life pictures on one piece of the wax paper. Sprinkle different
colored crayon shavings to the ocean scene. Place the other piece of wax paper
over the ocean scene. Using a warm iron, melt the crayon pieces and seal the
wax paper. Add construction paper strips around the edges. Hang in a window
so the the light can shine through!
www.thelearningleap.com
Paper Plate Hermit CrabsI
Culmination Activity - Ocean Luau!
To culminate the ocean unit have an ocean luau. Provide bubbles
and sidewalk chalk. Let the children draw ocean pictures on the
sidewalk. Eat gummy fish and goldfish crackers and hawaiian
fruits. Do the hula and the limbo.
See photos of our Ocean Luau!
To culminate the ocean unit have an ocean luau. Provide bubbles
and sidewalk chalk. Let the children draw ocean pictures on the
sidewalk. Eat gummy fish and goldfish crackers and hawaiian
fruits. Do the hula and the limbo.
See photos of our Ocean Luau!
Ocean Reading and Writing Activities
Ocean Journals
Provide each child with an ocean journal. As the various sea
animals are discussed, have the children record with pictures and
words in their journals what they have learned.
Read Just Grandma and Me by Mercer Mayer
This is the story of grandma's and little critters's trip to the beach.
Have the children write a story about an outing they have had with
grandpa or grandma or another family member.
Make an ABC Ocean Book
Brainstorm ocean words from a - z. Have each child draw a picture
to illustrate one ocean word. Put the pictures in abc order and bind
the pages together to create a big book.
Provide each child with an ocean journal. As the various sea
animals are discussed, have the children record with pictures and
words in their journals what they have learned.
Read Just Grandma and Me by Mercer Mayer
This is the story of grandma's and little critters's trip to the beach.
Have the children write a story about an outing they have had with
grandpa or grandma or another family member.
Make an ABC Ocean Book
Brainstorm ocean words from a - z. Have each child draw a picture
to illustrate one ocean word. Put the pictures in abc order and bind
the pages together to create a big book.
Ocean Windows
Have the children paint the windows of your
classroom ocean blue and add paper fish. Lots of
fun!
Have the children paint the windows of your
classroom ocean blue and add paper fish. Lots of
fun!