Ocean: Day Five

Field Trip!!!

Get out your sunscreen, beach towels, and swimsuits....you're heading out to the nearest beach. For those of you who don't live near a real beach, you could make a trip to a local aquarium, pet store with tropical fish, or fish hatchery. If none of these options are available, just have an indoor beach party!

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
  

Ocean: Day Three

Fish

Purpose:
Introduce children to more living creatures in the ocean, different types of fish.

Materials:
fish book
fish coloring page
bubble wrap
paint
paper
ocean scene (from day one's lesson)

Learning Activities:
1. Read a book about fish. Talk about different parts of the ocean, reviewing things at the shore, and show that fish live and swim out in the water.

2. Songs/Fingerplays:

Waves in the Ocean ("Wheels on the Bus")

Waves in the ocean go up and down, up and down, up and down. Waves in the ocean go up and down, all day long
Seaweed in the ocean goes in and out....
Fish in the ocean go swish, swish, swish...
Sharks in the ocean go snap, snap, snap...
Starfish in the ocean go spinning 'round....

I'm a little Fishy (Sung to I'm a little Teapot)

I'm a little fishy; I can swim.
Here is my tail. Here is my fin.
When I want to have fun with my friend,
I wiggle my tail and dive right in!

FIVE LITTLE FISH (SUNG TO FIVE LITTLE DUCKS)

Five little fish went swimming one day
Over the sea and far away
When the mommy fish called
"Come back, come back"
Only four little fish came swimming back
Continue the song until zero fish come back...and then sing,
Then a great big whale came swimming past
And five little fish swam back so fast!

FIVE LITTLE FISHES

Five little fishes
Swimming in the sea
Teasing Mr. Shark
You can't catch me
Along comes Mr. Shark
As quiet as can be...
SNAP!
Four little fishes
Swimming in the sea
(continue until there are no fish left
No little fishes swimming in the sea.

FIVE LITTLE FISH (flannelboard fingerplay)

Cut five fish shapes out of felt. Place the fish on your flannelboard. As you read the rhyme below, let the children take turns "catching" the fish by removing them from the flannelboard.

Five little fish swimming by the shore.
One got caught, and then there were four.

Four little fish swimming in the sea.
One got caught, and then there were three.

Three little fish swimming in the blue.
One got caught, and then there were two.

Two little fish swimming in the sun.
Once got caught, and then there was one.

One little fish swimming for home.
Decided it was best to never roam alone.

3. Fish Art:

Fish coloring pages

Bubble Wrap Fish: Cut a fish shape out of bubble wrap. Tape it to a paper plate. Have children paint over the bubbles to make a stamp and press paper over the top. The bubbles make great

scales!

Cut out your fish and add them to the ocean scene.

4. Fish Games:

Cut out fish shapes in various colors and sizes. Let children play the following games with the fish: sort fish by color and size. Line up the fish from smallest to largest. Count the fish.

Summary: Fish live and swim in the sea. There are many kinds of fish, in different shapes, sizes, and colors. They are creatures that live in the ocean's water.

Enrichment:

1. Big Book - Create a big book “Starfish, Starfish, What Do You See?” Let each child think of a different ocean animal. Have pre-cut pictures of different ocean animals. Each child can choose his/her animal and the teacher can print the text to match the picture.
2. Math: Goldfish graphing- Use three different types of goldfish crackers (pretzel, cheddar and plain). Have children sort according to color and lay on graph. While sorting, the children can count the different fish. The teacher can then instruct the student to place an X or glue a paper fish in the corresponding box.
   
3. Art: Japanese Fish Prints: Purchase a medium size fish from the market with good size scales and fins. Paint the fish then let children put paper on top and press down to create a fish print. Reapply paint as needed. Show pictures and read parts of “What it’s Like to Be a Fish.”
4. Science: Ocean Life water globes - Using clean baby food jars, fill with a mixture of water and glycerin. Children add glitter and sequin fish. They can decorate the outside with of the jar with fish stickers.
5. Cooking: Tuna fish sandwiches - Mix tuna, mayonnaise, and pickle relish together. Students can use a star cookie cutter to cut out “starfish” from sliced bread. Spread tuna mixture on bread, eat and enjoy.

Ocean: Day Two

At the Shore:
Sand, Shells, and Seaweed

Purpose:
To introduce children to things we can find on the ocean's shore such as: sand, shells, seaweed (and other plants), drift wood, glass, etc.

Materials:
ocean books
ocean waves painting (from day one's lesson)
shell coloring pages
paper
crayons
paint
yarn
sponge

Learning Activities:
1. Start by reading one or more ocean books. Point out the parts of the ocean: water, waves, sand, etc. "Yesterday we learned about ocean water and the waves in the ocean. Today we're going to learn about things we can find at the oceans' edge, the shore."

2. Get child's painting of ocean waves (from day one) and paint or color the bottom of the paper with brown/yellow to represent sand.

3. Let children color sea shells while you talk about what they are. Example: "Shells are homes to small sea creatures. They are washed up on the sand by the ocean waves. Only the strongest shells make it to the shore without breaking." Cut out shells and use them in this finger play activity:


Shell Finger Play:

5 little sea shells (hold up 5 fingers)
lying on the shore (move hands horizontally to represent sea sitting on the sand)
SWISH went the waves (act out a big wave)
and then there were 4. (hold up 4 fingers)

4 little sea shells (hold up 4 fingers)
cozy as can be (put arms together and rock, like rocking a baby)
SWISH went the waves (act out a big wave)
and then there were 3 (hold up 3 fingers)

3 little sea shells (hold up 3 fingers)
all pearly new (open hands like blinking lights)
SWISH went the waves (act out a big wave)
and then there were 2 (hold up 2 fingers)

2 little sea shells (hold up 2 fingers)
sleeping in the sun (place head on hands, like asleep)
SWISH went the waves (act out a big wave)
and then there was 1 (hold up 1 finger)

2 little sea shell (hold up 1 finger)
all alone (hold fists up to eyes, pretending to cry)
So, I whispered SHHHHHHHH! (put 1 finger to mouth)
and carried it home (cup hands together, pretending to carry a shell.)

glue the shells onto the sand of your ocean wave picture. (you could also talk about other non-living objects found at the shore: glass, wood, trash, etc)

4. Tell children about plants in the sea. Along the shore, we usually see grass and palm trees. Another plant we see at the shore is seaweed. Talk about seaweed and how it can be found growing on the ocean floor, floating in the water, and near the shore.

Add to yesterday's song: (with appropriate actions)

"Waves in the Ocean" (to the tune of "Wheels on the Bus")

Waves in the ocean go up and down,
up and down,
up and down.
Waves in the ocean go up and down,
all day long.

Seaweed in the ocean floats in and out,
in and out,
in and out.
Seaweed in the ocean floats in and out,
all day long.

Seaweed Art:

• Fold a piece of paper in half. Dip yarn in green paint. Place yarn down on the paper, folding it in half. Gently place hand on top of the paper as you pull the string out. Repeat with green or brown. Let dry. When dry, cut out the "seaweed," and glue it onto your ocean picture.

• Let children sponge-paint or draw with green/yellow on a paper. Cut out seaweed shapes from that paper. Add these to ocean picture.

Summary:
Show completed picture to children and discuss all the parts of the ocean you've learned about so far. Review songs/finger plays.


Enrichment:
1. Word Wall

2. Shell Art:

• decorate real shells with google eyes or glitter.
• dip shells in paint and use as stamps on paper.
• place paper over shells; color over with crayons to make a shell rub.
• Make shell "homes" out of empty milk cartons
• shell necklaces.

3. Make an ocean sensory center:
fill a small tub with sand, salty water, shells, driftwood, seaweed (found at health or pet stores) OR canned spinach to represent seaweed, etc. Place tub on towels and let children take a "trip" to the shore and step into the "ocean."

Ocean: Day One

Water and Waves

Purpose:
Help children understand the differences between fresh water and sea water and that the ocean has waves.

Materials:
ocean-themed books
globe or map of the earth
water
salt
2 clear containers/bowls
egg
blue paint
white paper
2 small bowls
sponge

Learning Activities:
1. Read an ocean-themed book to introduce lesson. (We read Out of the Ocean by Debra Frasier. It's a great book about all the things that the ocean brings us: from items washed on the shore by the waves, the sun and sand, and even the water itself.) Make sure to point out the water/waves in the ocean, asking questions like: "Where is the water? sun? etc."

2. "This week we are going to be learning about the ocean." Show the globe/map of the earth . "Oceans cover a big part of the earth. Look at all the blue areas on the globe/map. These are areas of water." (You can talk about rivers, lakes, etc and how they are different from the oceans. Point out the oceans cover a majority of our planet.)

3. Salty Ocean
"In the ocean, the water is different from the water in lakes and rivers and the water we drink. We're going to do an experiment to see some of the differences."


Fill 2 clear containers with water. Talk about how they are the same. (taste, if you want.)
Pour a good amount of salt into one container and stir until dissolved. Is the water the same? Why? or why not? (observe differences, smell/taste both) Ocean water is salty and not good to drink. It's different from water in lakes, rivers, ponds, etc.

4. Will it Float?
Using the same fresh/salt water, place an egg into the fresh water and observe what happens (it sinks.)


Now, take the egg and put it into the salt water. What happens? (It floats.) Why do you think it's different in this water? (The salt makes the water denser.) You can continue the experiment with other objects like soap.


5. Ocean Waves
In the ocean, the water doesn't just sit flat like at the swimming pool. Because the earth is constantly rotating (moving) and because of the pull of gravity, the ocean water is moving. We call this movement: waves. (Do actions as you tell this story and get kids standing up and moving like waves, too.)

Sing this song (you will add other verses as the week goes on):
"Waves in the Ocean" (to the tune of "Wheels on the Bus")

Waves in the ocean go up and down,
up and down,
up and down.
Waves in the ocean go up and down,
all day long.

(Have children stand up and make ocean waves with their hands/arms and then move their body up and down with the song.)


5. Squeezing Water Fun
Use 2 small bowls, one empty and one filled with water. Children soak the sponge in the water and squeeze it out into the empty bowl until all water has been transferred.


Conclusion:
Sing the ocean waves song again. Talk about how the waves of the ocean and the salt in sea water make it different from other water on the earth.


Enrichment:

1. Introduce the words for the week:
Ocean
Water
Blue
Fish
Two

2. Waves Painting
Give children large sheets of white paper. Place a dollop of blue finger paint on papers. Show children how to spread the pail all over the papers with their fingers. Then, show children how to make waves, like the waves of the ocean, with their fingers of the side of their hands. Let the papers dry and save them for tomorrow's lesson.