There’s so much to explore down in the deep blue ocean! Whether it be their food habitats and food preferences or their appearance and way of life, your kiddos will love learning about the various ocean creatures that inhabit our big blue. With this in mind, we’ve sourced 55 lively activities to help your preschoolers discover more! So, without further adieu, grab your crafting toolkit and let’s dive into a wealth of under-the-sea projects!
1. Paper Plate Crab Claw
This is a fun, hands-on activity that will help develop your students’ fine motor skills—both while crafting and while playing with it afterward. Guide your kids in cutting and painting paper plates using the provided template, and then help them fasten their plates together so they function like crab hands. Lastly, challenge your preschoolers to see how many objects they can pick up with their new “hands”!
Learn More: YouTube
2. Ocean Sing-Alongs
Time to set up an awesome play activity to get your preschoolers to interact with different sensory aspects of the ocean. Your water table sensory activity can incorporate plastic ocean animals, beach sand, blue water beads, and any other toys/objects that will spark curiosity in your kids.
Learn More: Learn With Homer
3. Ocean Sensory Bin
Time to set up an awesome play activity for your preschoolers to interact with different sensory aspects of the ocean. Your water table sensory activity can incorporate plastic ocean animals, beach sand, blue water beads, and any other toys/objects that will spark curiosity in your kids.
Learn More: Homer Blog
4. Learning Patterns and Shapes
Here’s an idea that’s great for getting your kiddos to develop their understanding of shapes, colors, and patterns. Download and print pattern block pages with ocean animal designs to pass out in class or at home. Your kids can work together or individually to find the correct pieces to create their ocean-inspired puzzles!
Learn More: Crayons and Whimsy
5. Suncatcher Jellyfish
Time to create some magic with one of my favorite ocean crafts. Make these beautiful suncatchers with your kids by having them use different colored tissue paper pieces, ribbons, and contact paper to reflect the light and imitate the colors and movement of jellyfish. You can hang them wherever the light hits to create a striking underwater ambience in your classroom!
Learn More: I Heart Arts n Crafts
6. DIY Sand Slime
Allow us to show you how to whip up some beach sensory slime that your toddlers can squish, stretch, and mold into anything imaginable—it looks and feels like sand but with less mess! You’ll need glue, water, baking soda, contact lens solution, and, of course, sand for this recipe. Get ready for plenty of sandy, slimy fun!
Learn More: Mom Wife, Busy Life
7. Ocean Sensory Bottle
Sensory bottles are a great tool to help your kids regulate their emotions and calm down during stressful or over-stimulating situations. Making them is half the fun! The basic ingredients for the liquid inside are glue, water, and food coloring. You’ll have to help assemble the bottles, but your kids can get involved by choosing what toys and objects to put inside.
Learn More: Conserva Mom
8. Pollution Project for Kids
It’s never too early to learn about the importance of keeping our oceans safe and clean. With your kids, set up an “ocean” in a large, clear container. Add in food coloring and pieces of garbage to represent different types of pollution found in our waters. Then, start a conversation about the visual differences and how they might affect people and animals using the water. This will give your toddlers a memorable, visual representation of what happens when we litter and use too many waste products.
Learn More: Science Sparks
9. Cupcake Liner Fish Craft
Add another student to your school of fish with this simple craft project using brightly colored cupcake liners, a paper plate, and googly eyes! Simply have your students cut out mouths and glue on the liners however they’d like to bring about a creative and unique design.
Learn More: Hunny I’m Home
10. Sponge Sea Anemones
Most teachers have popsicle sticks in their preschool classroom, so bring those out and put together these adorable octopus crafts with your kids! Your students can cut out the heads from construction paper or felt, place them in the center of the glued-together sticks, and then add beads or sequins for the suckers before finishing the craft off by adding facial features.
Learn More: Parties with a Cause
11. Popsicle Stick Octopus
Most teachers have popsicle sticks in their preschool classroom, so let’s bring those out and put together these adorable octopus crafts! You can cut out the head from construction paper and place it in the center of your sticks, then add beads or sequence for the suckers.
Learn More: Craft Project Ideas
12. DIY Seashell Boats
This ocean activity is best assembled after a beach field trip where your students have collected a few seashells. Putting these tiny boats together is both easy and fun! You just need some clay, toothpicks, and small pieces of tape for your kids to create little sailing shells.
Learn More: The Crafting Chicks
13. Sea Turtle Bookmark
Can we make reading more fun? I think we can, with these adorable DIY turtle bookmarks! Depending on your kids’ scissor skills, either give them precut turtle shapes or help them cut out their own from a tracing. Then, let them color to their hearts’ content, creating their very own book buddy!
Learn More: Lulu and Celeste
14. Ocean-Themed Books
There are so many fun and educational books out there that you can read to your kids to teach them about different aspects of the ocean. Many of them have cute stories, facts, and even useful information about animals, their habitats, and the beach.
Learn More: 30 Amazing Ocean Books for Kids
15. Sea Turtle Life Cycle
Preschoolers are curious about how other animals are born and grow up. Use these cute printables to teach your kids how turtles start as eggs and grow into adults, among introducing them to other lessons. Each page of the kit has a unique activity that will give your kids a better understanding of these amazing sea creatures!
Learn More: Homeschool Preschool
16. Egg Carton Whales
Grab some old egg cartons and get crafting! Let your preschoolers’ creativity shine with their unique whale designs. They can use blue pipe cleaners for the water spray and pieces of paper or felt for the fins and tail before adding on a set of googly eyes and drawing on a smile—so cute!
Learn More: I Heart Crafty Things
17. Alphabet Shells
We’ve got some beach treasures that your little pirates will love digging up! Find some sea shells and write different upper and lower case letters on the smooth sides. Then, gather a mound of sand and place the shells face down in it. Your preschoolers can use the shells to play matching letter games, letter recognition games, or even complete word formation tasks with them!
Learn More: Natural Beach Living
18. Ocean Theme Play Dough Mats
Playdough is always fun, but your kids will find it even more engaging if you give them some themed extras to pair with it. You can find an ocean-themed printable mat online or draw/paint your own. Then, give your littles some playdough and ocean-themed toys and help them create ocean animal figures like tropical fish, seahorses, and stingrays!
Learn More: Messy Little Monster
19. Bubble Wrap Jellyfish Craft
With just a paper plate, some paint, plenty of bubble wrap, and a few fun extras, your preschoolers can create these adorable jellyfish to decorate your classroom or play with at home.
Learn More: The Resourceful Mama
20. DIY Crab Hat
Isn’t this the cutest little crab hat you’ve ever seen? Help your kiddos make their own hats with crab claws that shake and shimmy! You can make these using felt, cardstock, glue, and pipe cleaners. Help your students cut the pieces into the right sizes and shapes and then glue or sew them together.
Learn More: My Kid Craft
21. Salt Water Density Experiment
Who needs paintbrushes when you’ve got forks? Time to get a little abstract and teach your students about these amazing sea creatures and their unique appearance and tendencies. Your kiddos can paint their own using forks and a variety of colors before finishing them off with cardstock cut-out facial features.
Learn More: Crafty Morning
22. Ocean-Themed Treats
Do your little ones like bananas and chocolate? This snack is going to knock their socks off! Get some blue candy melts and coat banana halves with your kids. Then, freeze them and add little candy fishes for a nice under-the-sea touch!
Learn More: Crayons and Cravings
23. Sea Turtle Snacks
Looking for another healthy snack to energize your toddlers while also teaching them about the amazing animals in the ocean? Use green apples, grapes, chocolate chips, and a tiny bit of frosting to make these delicious and nutritious fruity sea turtles for your students. They’re the perfect mid-day snack!
Learn More: Crafty Morning
24. Rainbow Fish Craft
The Rainbow Fish is a classic children’s book that shows the beauty and wonder of the ocean. Help your toddlers bring their very own rainbow fish to life using a poster board for the body and cut-out colored paper and tinfoil for the scales.
Learn More: The Vintage Umbrella
25. Feed the Shark
Whether you’re having a game day at school or having fun at home, this motor skills ball game is a hole-in-one! If you’re crafty, you can paint your own shark face on a cardboard box and cut out the mouth hole. Then, stand back and cheer your kids on as they try to “feed the shark” by tossing bean bags through its mouth!
Learn More: The Crumby Mummy
26. Sea Animal Memory Game
Printable picture cards, like the ones in this set, are a great tool to use when teaching your kids about animals. You can use these as flashcards for introduction or review, or get your kids to use them in a classic memory game.
Learn More: Adventure in a Box
27. Sand Art Starfish
Stars don’t just shine in the sky! Mix up some salt dough and guide your students in creating their very own sea stars with it. The unique, sandy texture of the dough makes for a fun, tactile experience that’ll remind them of a day at the beach!
Learn More: Little Bins for Little Hands
28. Seaweed Handprint Art
Handprint art is a fun way to change up your regular painting routine—and it makes for a great memento for Mom and Dad! Help your kids paint their hands to create swimming fish that are as unique as their handprints. Then, talk about other things that they might find underwater and let them add them to their scene.
Learn More: Crystal and Comp
29. Coral Reef Exploration
Step into the vibrant world beneath the waves! Offer pasta, beans, and cereal to your students and let them recreate the dazzling beauty of coral reefs. They’ll have lots of fun talking about the ocean and its creatures as they arrange their pieces and enjoy some sensory play!
Learn More: In These Stilettos
30. Whale Water Play
Ready to splash around like a whale? With a tub of water beads and a few sea friends, your students can embark on a watery expedition. They’ll experience the thrill of ocean life without leaving the classroom. Talk about taking a deep dive into fun and oceanic exploration!
Learn More: Living Montessori Now
31. Fishing Game
How about a fishing adventure indoors? Your students can craft a marine world using only pipe cleaners and a bowl of water before using a chopstick to hook a fish. The chase, the catch, the delight of fishing without leaving your classroom is theirs for the taking!
Learn More: 7 Days of Play
32. Nautical Knot Tying
Sailors at heart, are we? Hand your students ropes and let the knot-tying begin. From simple loops to intricate twists, they’ll master this sailor’s craft in no time! It’s a journey of dexterity and maritime wonder.
Learn More: How We Montessori
33. Seashell Sorting
Shell enthusiasts, assemble! Present your students with a myriad of seashells and let them dive into a categorization feat. Your kids will have fun feeling different shells and picking their own sorting criteria, whether it be in relation to their color, shape, or texture.
Learn More: LeapFrog
34. Ocean Puppet Show
Whales aren’t the only ones with tales. Help your students make these easy ocean-themed puppets with just felt and popsicle sticks. Then, watch as they weave enthralling underwater narratives together.
Learn More: YouTube
35. Seashell Wind Chimes
Looking for a beachy gift that your kids can make and give to their loved ones? With some simple supplies and your help, they can string together melodic wind chimes that make perfect presents. Better yet, this is a great activity to strengthen your little ones’ fine motor skills!
Learn More: The Activity Mom
36. Deep Sea Diving Pretend Play
Here’s a simple make-believe game that’ll let your kiddos experience life underwater. Your students can don goggles and snorkels and venture into the deep blue. You’ll be amazed at the stories they’ll act out with just a few simple accessories!
Learn More: Planning Play Time
37. Dancing Seaweed Activity
Ready for a marine dance-off? Cue some oceanic tunes and watch your students sway like graceful seaweed. They’ll be moving, grooving, and diving deep into the rhythm of the sea. Let the marine fiesta begin!
Learn More: YouTube
38. Octopus Counting Game
Eight’s the number, fun’s the game! Help your students make these simple clay octopi and then guide them in placing the correct number of counters on each numbered tentacle. What a great way to combine sensory play, motor skills, and counting!
Learn More: Housebound with Kids
39. Salt Painting Starfish
Art and science are an enchanting blend! Salt painting is a fun way to let your students experiment with color and learn about chemical reactions. Let them paint with watercolors and then sprinkle on salt or use an eyedropper to add salt water to see what happens!
Learn More: The Keeper of the Memories
40. Seashell Painting
Art, nature, and a touch of creativity are what this activity’s all about! With nothing more than paint and brushes, your students will be able to transform mundane shells into masterpieces. The finished products would make great additions to sensory bins or counting activities.
Learn More: AppleGreen Cottage
41. Marine Treasure Hunt
What could be better than a field trip? A field trip that includes a special mission for your kiddos! If you’re planning a field trip to an aquarium, make it even more engaging by tasking your students with finding the objects in this printable scavenger hunt. What a great way to keep them engaged and introduce new words!
Learn More: Life Over C’s
42. Algae Sensory Bags
Invite your kiddos to dive hands-first into the wonders of the deep blue! Fill plastic bags with hair gel and green dye and hand them over to your eagerly awaiting youngins. Your students will love the squishy feel of the bags, and you’ll love teaching your kids about algae with these fun visualization aids.
Learn More: The Keeper of the Memories
43. Clamshell Math
Who knew clams held numerical secrets? Present your students with paper numbers, a printed bucket, and shells. You can then pick a number and ask your students to fill their buckets with the corresponding number of shells. Alternatively, fill their bucket with shells and ask them to find the number cutout that matches the number of shells in the bucket.
Learn More: Montessori From The Heart
44. Ocean Animal Charades
An oceanic performance awaits! Distribute cards that depict sea creatures’ names and watch as your students morph into marine mimics. Through each act, they’ll refresh and reinforce their understanding of the ocean’s inhabitants—while having fun and shaking some of those sillies out!
Learn More: Darcy and Brian
45. Jellyfish Mobiles
Dive into an aerial marine ballet! Engage your students in crafting colorful jellyfish to turn your classroom into the perfect underwater scene. There are lots of different options for crafting jellyfish, so this is a great activity to use up whatever craft supplies you happen to have on hand!
Learn More: Kids Art & Craft
46. Dolphin Races
Ready for a splash of agility? Ignite the spirit of dolphins in your students! Watch some videos of swimming and playing dolphins and then invite your students to mimic these swift and graceful creatures. Hold dolphin races for a friendly competition that works off some of that preschool energy!
Learn More: YouTube
47. Ocean Zones in a Jar
Guide your students in using colored paper to create jars with distinct hues to represent the ocean’s zones. They can glue or draw on marine creatures to craft a tangible and educational marine masterpiece.
Learn More: Living Porpoisefully
48. Coral Clay Sculptures
Look at some photos or videos of coral reefs and talk about their different components. Then, arm your students with colorful clay and watch as they mold mesmerizing pieces of coral. This is a tactile way to reinforce any learning around coral whilst creating beautiful keepsakes!
Learn More: The Artful Parent
49. Deep Sea Flashlight Exploration
Plunge into oceanic shadows and secrets! Help your underwater adventurers create dark ocean scenes that they can explore with a paper flashlight—without ever getting wet! This craft has a few steps, but it’s a clever way to talk about ocean life using just plastic bags, paper, and whiteboard markers.
Learn More: Ronyes Tech
50. Fishbowl Collages
Craft your slice of the ocean! As your students meticulously place fish cutouts on bowl-shaped canvases, they’ll design personalized marine realms. You can then provide them with colored paper, sequins, stickers, sand, and t whatever else you have on hand to create their very own aquatic masterpieces.
Learn More: YouTube
51. Ocean in a Box Diorama
The vast blue, encapsulated in a box! Help your students craft ocean scenes within shoeboxes. They can create and add new elements as you learn about different underwater plants and creatures.
Learn More: Super Simple
52. Fish Scale Art
There’s nothing fishy about this craft! Introduce your kids to a fun, new painting technique that uses recycled materials—used toilet paper tubes! Let them pick their own paint colors and use this activity as a way to talk about, and practice making, patterns.
Learn More: Crafty Morning
53. Ocean Sounds Listening Game
This sounds like a great way to incorporate an ocean theme into your phonics lesson! Set up this digital matching activity in Google Slides or Seesaw to help your preschoolers learn about and practice how to identify letter sounds. This is a great option for those who aren’t able to use printables or letter cards.
Learn More: Fun Learning for Kids
54. Ocean Yoga Poses
Introduce your students to these ocean-themed yoga poses, from the serene “Starfish Stretch” to the dynamic “Dolphin Dive.” This is a clever way of helping your kids improve their motor skills while learning to self-regulate.
Learn More: Pink Oatmeal
55. Sandpaper Starfish
Texture tales from the deep blue beckon! Hand over sea star cutouts made of sandpaper to your students. As they touch and explore, they’ll embark on a tactile journey. Guide your kids in decorating and personalizing their sea stars with glitter and googly eyes. Then, have them create a simple background of waves or underwater plants for their new friends. This is a fun, tactile craft that lets them dive into learning!
Learn More: If These Cheerios Could Talk
28 Winter Elementary Activities: Arts, Crafts, And Experiments