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Learning about ocean animals

12 Comments Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade

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I recently completed a preschool ocean unit with my two kids.

One of my goals was for my kids to become familiar with some of the common ocean animals and be able to describe their features or state some interesting facts about them.

For example, an interesting fact about squid is that they will squirt ink to escape from predators. And something cool about sea stars is that they can regenerate their limbs if one of their arms gets cut off.

In this post I’m sharing several activities we did during this unit to help my kids learn about ocean animals.

Note: For more resources, printables and activities related to the ocean and its inhabitants, please see my ocean unit study page.

Hands-on activities to help kids learn about ocean animals | Ocean activities | Ocean learning activities | Ocean animals for preschoolers | #ece #preschool #ocean #handsonlearning #giftofcuriosity || Gift of Curiosity

Learning about ocean animals using Montessori 3-part cards (aka, nomenclature cards)

One of my goals for our ocean unit was for my kids to become familiar with a large variety of ocean-dwelling animals. Toward that end, I created a set of Montessori-inspired 3-part cards featuring 20 different ocean animals for them to learn about.

The kids were already familiar with some of the animals, but others were new to them.

I started by laying out cards for several animals and saying the animals’ names. Then I had the kids match the pictures of the various animals, and as they did so we would talk about each animal.

Using 3-part cards to help kids learn about ocean animals || Gift of Curiosity

I also purchased some mini ocean animals for this unit, both the Safari Ltd Ocean Toob from Amazon and a sea life set from Oriental Trading Company.

The kids spent some time matching the animals from our sets to the images on the 3-part cards.

Using 3-part cards to help kids learn about ocean animals || Gift of Curiosity

I also created a matching Ocean Animals Book to go along with the 3-part cards. We learned about the animals by reading from the book.

Want a copy of my Ocean Animals 3-Part Cards or Ocean Animals Book?

Acting like ocean animals

To add a gross motor component and just to have some plain ‘ole fun, part of our learning involved acting like ocean animals.

We walked like crabs, moved like dolphins, and in the picture below, my son was doing his best impression of a sea lion.

Activities to help kids learn about ocean animals - moving like ocean animals || Gift of Curiosity

Ocean animal observation game

To further reinforce the names of all the animals, we played an observation game. I placed some animals on a tray and had the kids study them.

Activities to help kids learn about ocean animals - observation game || Gift of Curiosity

Then, while the kids closed their eyes, I changed something on the tray. The kids then had to figure out what had changed.

Sometimes I took an animal away.

Activities to help kids learn about ocean animals - observation game || Gift of Curiosity

Sometimes I added an extra animal.

Activities to help kids learn about ocean animals - observation game || Gift of Curiosity

They had so much fun trying to guess what had changed!

Learning about ocean animal adaptations

I wanted the kids to learn a few things about how animals are adapted to life in the ocean.

For example, I had them make a pile of all the animals that move through the water with fins. We looked at how fish and sharks move their tail fins from side to side, but whales move their tail fins up and down.

Activities to help kids learn about ocean animals - discussing animal adaptations for life in the ocean || Gift of Curiosity

We also played a game outside to demonstrate how different animals catch their food.

First, the kids pretended to be sea anemones. They sat down, and I blew bubbles to represent the food they needed to catch. They kids caught as many bubbles as they could while being stuck to the ground like sea anemones.

Activities to help kids learn about ocean animals - how different animals catch their food || Gift of Curiosity

Then they stood up and got to “swim” like sharks. I blew more bubbles and they raced around to catch them. After the activity was over, we discussed how it was easier to catch food when they could move.

Activities to help kids learn about ocean animals - how different animals catch their food || Gift of Curiosity

On another day when my mom was visiting us, we were pretended to be different animals. My son was intrigued by the fact that jellyfish sting, and he liked to pretend to be a jellyfish so he could “sting” us with his long arms.

The kids were also really fascinated by the fact that squids and octopuses squirt ink. So I suggested the kids take turns playing a squid, complete with a water bottle for them to squirt their “ink.”

The kid who was playing the squid would sit on a chair while the rest of us would pretend to be predators coming to eat the squid. When we got close, the kids would squirt us with the water bottle to simulate how the squid squirts ink. The rest of us would then pretend to not be able to see because of the ink.

Needless to say, giving my kids permission to squirt me and their grandmum with water was a HUGE hit!

Activities to help kids learn about ocean animals - learning about animal defense mechanisms || Gift of Curiosity

More resources for learning about the ocean

More ocean posts from Gift of Curiosity:

  • Ocean Montessori activities
  • Salt water and waves science
  • Shell activities
  • Blubber experiment
  • Ocean animals book & 3-part cards
  • Ocean Printables Pack
  • Ocean Do-a-Dot Printables
  • Ocean I Spy

For more resources, printables and activities related to the ocean and its inhabitants, please see my Ocean Unit Study page and my Oceans Pinterest board.

Filed Under: Preschool, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, Science, Ocean, Zoology

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Reader Interactions

12 Comments

  1. Kali @ For the Love of Spanish

    August 19, 2013 at 9:57 am

    Oh! We just started a unit on the ocean as well to squeeze in before we officially say goodbye to summer. So glad you’re sharing your unit! Can’t wait to see the next eleven posts!

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie

      August 19, 2013 at 12:51 pm

      Thanks for stopping by! I hope you’ll find a few useful ideas as I share our ocean unit!

      Reply to this comment
  2. Stephanie @ From the Burbs to the Boonies

    August 19, 2013 at 10:37 am

    This is really neat! It’s so important for kids who live inland to learn about the ocean as it is an amazing resource we have to protect. Also, one of my life’s pet peeves is when people think dolphins or whales are fish! I routinely quiz my 7 year old (who was blessed to have lived in Florida until almost age 6): What are whales and dolphins?? Him: Mammals!

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie

      August 19, 2013 at 12:52 pm

      Too funny about your pet peeve being people mistaking dolphins and whales for fish! Good thing your son knows the right response now! 🙂

      Reply to this comment
  3. Jenny Eaves

    August 22, 2013 at 9:20 pm

    Great ideas! I definitely have to try adapting some of these ideas for my 2 year old, I’m sure he would especially love the animal movements and squirting like a squid! 🙂 x

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie

      August 22, 2013 at 9:58 pm

      Oh yes, squirting like a squid brought lots of laughter to our day! What child doesn’t enjoy getting to squirt water, especially at his or her parent? 🙂

      Reply to this comment
  4. Allison

    August 23, 2013 at 4:09 pm

    Great activities – I LOVE the observation tray. I will be featuring this on The Sunday Showcase this weekend. Thank you for linking up!

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie

      August 23, 2013 at 4:38 pm

      Thanks for featuring this post!

      Reply to this comment
  5. Gena

    August 23, 2013 at 8:02 pm

    Love these ideas! Pinned it!
    –Gena

    Reply to this comment
  6. Ticia

    August 24, 2013 at 1:15 pm

    My kids always love when I can incorporate acting like a certain animal. Thanks for linking up to Science Sunday!

    Reply to this comment
    • Katie

      August 24, 2013 at 1:23 pm

      Oh yes, acting out animals is always a bit hit around here! 🙂

      Reply to this comment
  7. Deceptively Educational

    August 25, 2013 at 6:16 pm

    I love how diverse these activities are – from quiet and contemplative to physical gross motor activities perfect for the kinesthetic learner. What a great unit! I’m featuring this at the After School Linky Party this week. Stop by to check it out and share more while you’re there!

    Reply to this comment

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