Ocean: Day Four

More Fish
(and Other Sea Creatures)

Today is a day for ocean enrichment. Use books, art, movies (Finding Nemo), games, songs, actions, and food which focus on the ocean and creatures of the sea.

Examples:

1. Fish in the Sea
You need: paper plates, paint, saran wrap, fish shapes
Children color or paint paper plates blue and green. Children can either draw or cut out colored fish from construction paper. Fish can be glued to paper plate. Cover paper plate with saran wrap. Attach string and hang from ceiling.

A wonderful story to read for this activity is Swimmy by Leo Lionni. Lovely mix of colors in this story book.

2. Ocean Pictures
You need: white construction paper, crayons, blue paint
Children draw underwater, ocean scenes, complete with plants and animals discovered throughout the week. When finished, paint thinly over the picture with blue paint to create an underwater scene.

3. Friendly octopus
You need: paper, tissue paper, black felt tip marker, glue and scissors.
For each child draw a half circle on the white paper, let the children cut it out to make the bodies and use felt tip marker to draw on eyes. Then have the children cut eight thin strips out of white tissue paper and glue them on the back of the octopus body to make legs. Hang from the ceiling (or place on your ocean scene.)

4. Jellyfish
You need: plastic sandwich bag, bubble wrap, curling ribbon
Stuff bubble wrap into plastic bag, leaving strips coming out of the bottom for the tentacles. Tie with curling ribbon, leaving ends draping down as well. Hang from the ceiling (or place on ocean scene.)

(Sung To: My Bonnie Lies Over The Ocean)
This jelly fish lives in the ocean,
This jelly fish lives in the sea
This jelly fish lives in the ocean
Oh, jelly fish don't swim by me.

5. Starfish
You need: cardstock (cut into star shape), glue, crushed shredded wheat cereal
Brush glue on star shape. Sprinkle with cereal. Let dry and place on ocean scene.

6. Fish Wiggle: This game is like "statue" or "freeze." Children wiggle around on the floor like a fish until the music stops. Then they must be still. If they move, they're "out."

7. Lobster Limbo: crab walk under the limbo stick.

8. Fish Play: Wear oven mitts on hands as pretend lobster claws/fish fins.

9. DRAMATIC AREA- Provide a few beach bags packed with towels, sunglasses, hats, visors, pails, shovels, empty suntan lotion bottles, and a pretend snack. If you have a boat, put it in there also. You could hang a clear shower curtain with fish for an ocean scene.

10. SINK AND FLOAT- Fill sand and water table with water. Lay out an assortment of things that will sink and float. Items like, sponge, cork, wooden block, toy car, crayon, scissors, large paper clip, and a plastic straw. Have the children guess what will sink or float before putting in the water.

11. SAND AND SEA JAR- Fill a clear plastic bottle or jar with layers of rocks, shells, sand, and water. Encourage the children to shake the jar as you discuss how sand is formed over a long period of time from the grinding of rocks against other rocks and shells.

12. WAVE BOTTLE- Fill a small plastic jar with a little more that half full of water. Add two or three drops pf blue food coloring to the water and mix well. Fill the rest of the jar with mineral oil. (fill to the top or air bubbles can form). Put the lid on tightly hot gluing it to stay in place. Hold the bottle sideways and gently tip it to create "waves". Before adding the oil and water you can drop some sand and shells into the bottle, and some sequins for the sparkling effect.

13. Food:

SEA STAR COOKIES- The children take a star shaped cookie cutter and make sea stars out of bread slices. Spread butter on the sea stars anf sprinkle with grated cheese. Then toast in the oven, cool and eat.

CINNAMON SEA SNAILS- You will need cresent roll dough, soft butter, cinnamon, and sugar. Seperate the dough into triangles. Have the children spread the butter on one side, sprinkle the cinnamon and the sugar over the butter. Start with one end of the triangle and roll into a spiral. Bake as directed, let cool and enjoy!

SINK AND FLOAT SALAD- Take a baggie that ziplocks. Put crushed pineapple on the bottom, then jello, then grated coconut and last mini marshmallows.

OCTOPUS BUBBLES- Pour half a glass of pineapple juice. Add club soda to fill the glass. Stir and enjoy.

EDIBLE AQUARIUM- Softened cream cheese with a few drops of blue food coloring added, melba toast, goldfish crackers. Spread the blue cream cheese on to the melba toast, put a few goldfish on top.

More ideas here:

• "Oceans" from Core Knowledge
• "Ocean Alive" from The Virtual Vine
• "Under the Sea" from Woodlands Mommy