Ocean Activities for Preschoolers – Fun with Mama

The ocean is a fascinating and mysterious world that preschoolers will love learning about. From learning ocean-related vocabulary words to counting sea creatures, making ocean animals crafts, and creating an ocean life sensory bin, here are 20+ Ocean Activities for Preschoolers which you can use to teach kids about the world within the ocean.

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Preschool Ocean Theme

Ocean-themed activities are a great idea for the classroom or during the summer break. I find that adding a practical learning experience like visiting the aquarium or the beach can enhance their understanding and excitement. Kids also learn best through structured themes or lessons. It helps to keep them engaged and familiarize themselves with various concepts.

The vast and mysterious world of the ocean offers many opportunities for exploration, discovery, and education. Through ocean-themed activities, preschoolers can learn about different sea creatures, the underwater environment, and the importance of protecting our oceans. This theme also offers a fantastic opportunity to develop various essential preschool skills in a fun and interactive way. It’s a wonderful opportunity for them to learn new words, engage in sensory play, and develop math, literacy and fine motor skills.

1. Set up a learning area with various ocean-themed decorations. Put out your supplies too. Rotate the activities so that your kids will remain engaged and excited.
2. Read the book ‘Commotion in the Ocean’ by Giles Andreae. Then, work on improving counting skills with these free Commotion in the Ocean Count and Clip Cards.
3. Play a classic game of Ocean Bingo whilst expanding vocabulary.
4. Explore the ocean, visit an aquarium or set up a sensory bin filled with elements that the kids will recognize before or after they work through the pack.
5. Add these activities and worksheets to your lesson plans. The pack can work for group or individual activities.

Ocean Sensory Bin

If you have young kids and don’t want them to feel left out, create this exciting ocean sensory bin using colored water, figurines, sand, and anything else that is suitable for an under the sea theme. My daughters are big fans of Octonauts and books like The Rainbow Fish so they love this activity.

Rainbow Fish Craft

Create a colorful rainbow fish craft inspired by the book ‘The Rainbow Fish.’ It’s an easy yet fun ocean craft activity that uses simple materials.

Ocean Printable Pack

This Ocean Activities Pack is suitable for preschool and kindergarten, and includes all you need to complete an ocean theme. Students will explore the alphabet, beginning sounds, sight words, counting to ten, shapes and colors plus so much more! Your students will have so much fun while learning about the ocean and the amazing animals that live there.

Ocean Literacy Activities

These ocean literacy skills will help kids to reinforce essential literacy skills such as:

1. Ocean Vocabulary Words

Learn 15 ocean vocabulary words by using the chart or cards. Cards can also be used as a memory-matching game.

3. Oyster + Pearl Beginning Sounds

Learn about beginning sounds by matching the alphabet pearls to the oyster with the same sound.

5. Alphabet Tracing Submarines

Trace the letters on the submarine windows to improve pre-writing skills.

7. Ocean Treasure Chest Sight Words

Find the sight word gems that match the treasure chest. You can cover them or clip them with a paper clip.

2. Ocean Alphabet Mazes

Trace the letter then follow and dot the uppercase and lowercase letter. Mazes are engaging and help kids develop problem-solving skills.

4. Alphabet Letter Matching Shells

Improve letter discrimination by matching the uppercase letter shell to the lowercase letter.

6. Ocean Flashcards

See what real ocean animals look like and learn their names with these ocean flashcards.

Ocean Math Activities

Some of the math skills learnt in these ocean activities for preschoolers are:

8. Whale Spout Number Mats

Trace the number then add the same number of water spouts. We used pom poms in the example picture. You can also use marbles.

10. Jellyfish Math Links

Cut out the jellyfish, punch holes and add colored math links to create tentacles.

12. Shark Number Sensory Bin

Cut out the shark then tape it to a container. Hide fish in a sensory bin and as your student finds the fish, trace it on the page and feed it to the hungry shark.

14. Color Matching Fish + Coral

Match the fish to the same color coral. You can also use it to identify colors.

9. Ocean Number Sense Mats

Make snack time fun – trace the number and add goldfish crackers to the pond. Then place the correct number cards onto the mat.

11. Jellyfish Tentacle Counting

Count the jellyfish tentacles. Then mark the correct number on the jellyfish.

13. Oyster Shapes Clip Card

Clip the same pearl shape as the oyster shape.

Ocean Art and Crafts Activities

Art and craft activities are fun because:

15. Sea Turtle Craft

Create the turtle craft by coloring in the turtle, cutting it out and gluing it together.

17. Octopus Craft

Can you build this octopus? Create the octopus craft by coloring in the turtle, cutting it out and gluing it together.

16. Jellyfish Craft

Create your own jellyfish in a few simple steps. Use the color copy for a simpler, quicker activity.

Ocean Visual Discrimination Activities

These hands-on ocean activities for preschoolers enhance visual discrimation skills such as:

18. Sea Turtle Life Cycle

Learn the life cycle of a sea turtle then use the cut and paste worksheet.

20. Sorting Ocean VS Forest Animals

Sort the animals according to their habitat and discuss the differences.

19. Ocean Shadow Matching

Match the ocean animal to the correct shadow.

21. Ocean Pattern Block Mats

Trace the word. Then create the ocean animals using pattern blocks and circle which blocks you used.

Worksheets

These convenient worksheets are my favorite resource! They:

• Require minimal prep- just print and go!
• Can be printed in advance and used during busy moments.
• Cover essential learning concepts.

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