Ready to dive deep into the big blue sea? This week is all about the ocean. It might seem summer-y for late September but I figure many kids may have visited the ocean or seen sea life this summer and learning about it and discussing it post-summer would be fun. Who doesn’t enjoy ocean themed preschool activities? For more on our free simple preschool activities at home series, click here. The intro post tells all about this simple program, ages, etc. You’ll also find a list of all the themes there. 

Simple Preschool At-Home Activities: Ocean

BOOKS: 

1. Hooray for Fish
2. The Big Book of the Blue
3. Touch and Explore the Ocean
4. It’s a Seashell Day 
5. Mr. Seahorse 
6. Room on Our Rock
7. The Sea Mammal Alphabet Book

SONG: Octopus’s Garden 

I love this book version and it comes with a cd: Octopus’s Garden 

You can easily find the song to listen to on YouTube (or your Beatles cds), but my favorite is this one: Octopus’s Garden for Kids. This has the lyrics and the pages of the book I mentioned above. 

CRAFT 1: Cupcake Liner Fish 

Supplies: 

• 2 Cupcake Liners
• Blue Dot Paint or blue markers
• Glue
• Google eye

Directions: Cut one cupcake liner in half. Glue cupcake liners onto paper to form a fish shape. Add wiggle eye with glue. Make water bubbles with the blue dot paint.

CRAFT 2: Yarn Jellyfish 

Supplies:

• Blue construction paper
• Orange paper or foam sheet
• White yarn cut into 10-15 strands
• 2 google eyes
• Glue

Directions: Cut a semi circle out of the orange foam sheet. Let the kids glue all of the yarn strings onto the back of the semi circle. Flip the semi circle over & let glue to the blue construction paper. Glue on eyes.

For littler ones, cut out all of the supplies ahead of time. For kids that can cut on their own, cutting the yard and semi circle is fun cutting practice. 

CRAFT 3: Finger Print Octopus

Supplies:

• Paper, paint, google eyes (optional)

Directions: Paint a circle and let it dry or have the child paint a circle. Using the child’s finger, make finger print tentacles. Glue on google eyes or draw on eyes with a marker. 

SNACK:

1. Swedish fish
2. Goldfish
3. Beach Sand Pudding Cups: vanilla pudding, topped with smashed graham crackers (sand!). 

QUIET TIME BOX:

1. Fishing Toy. This game is great because it can entertain (quietly) for a while and also teach a lot of skills. It’s a good activity for fine motor and this version teachers letter recognition, colors, sorting, etc. I ordered it on Amazon. 

2. Ocean Felt Boards: This is one to make for a quiet time activity. I ordered a pack of felt sheets on Amazon. I left the blue one in tact and glued it to a piece of cardboard. Then used the other colors to cut out seaweed, rocks, fish, etc. Really anything you can cut out that looks like it would be in the ocean. Let the child “make an ocean scene” on the blue felt using the pieces you cut. 

SENSORY: Beach in a Box

Supplies:

• 6 cups of flour
• 1 cup of baby oil
• Plastic Ocean Animal Toys
• Tupperware or other container

Directions: Mix flour and baby oil to form “sand”. Pour into box and add animals. Let kids play

FINE MOTOR: Pipe Cleaner Fishing

This is easy & fun! Have them twist 1 pipe cleaner into the shape of a fish and 1 into the shape of a hook. Fill a cup with water and practice “catching” the fish. 

SCIENCE: Sink or Float. Click here for a “how to” and FREE printable 

SHARING & TAKING TURNS: “Hide the Seashell” or “Hide the Fish”. Find a seashell, toy sea creature or cut out a paper fish. Practice taking turns by one person hiding the ocean item and then the others “dig” or “swim” around to find it. 

TV SHOW: Magic School Bus episode 13, season 4: Magic School Bus Takes a Dive (available on Netflix)

Looking for more: 5 Simple Crafts // 10 Ocean Themed Activities for Kids