License Plates Rubbings

Let the children do crayon rubbings with paper over different license plates.

Taxi

Invite a Taxi driver to visit and show the different features of a taxi.

Sand & Cars

In the sensory table place sand & cars for the children to explore.

Car Parts Magnified

Provide car parts & magnifying glasses for the children to explore.

Cars Lesson Plan

Click on the image to view and/or print.

Ocean Field Trip Ideas

Take a field trip to the aquarium, the beach or go on a boat ride on the ocean. Talk about the water, waves, sand and all the living things in and by the water.

At the Aquarium:

On the Beach:

Finding a sponge on the beach

Finding several creatures during the lowest tide of the year

Exploring tide pools

Watching whales

On a ferry ride, watching boats, waves, water and animals in the ocean:

Exploring Seashells

Place several shells and sand along with a magnifying glass in an area of your classroom. Your children will love getting to see the patterns and makeup of these items.

Little Oceans

The children can make little oceans by placing sand, rocks, shells, plastic ocean animals, etc. with blue salty water in baby food jars. Glue the lids shut to prevent spills.

Slippery Fish

Slippery fish, slippery fish, sliding through the water,
Slippery fish, slippery fish, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by an …

Octopus, octopus, squiggling in the water
Octopus, octopus, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by a …

Tuna fish, tuna fish, splashing in the water,
Tuna fish, tuna fish, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by a …

Great white shark, great white shark, lurking in the water,
Great white shark, great white shark, Gulp, Gulp, Gulp!
Oh, no! It’s been eaten by a …

Humongous whale, humongous whale, spouting in the water,
Humongous whale, humongous whale,
Gulp! … Gulp! … Gulp! … BURP!
Pardon me!

Our favorite version is called “Octopus” by Charlotte Diamond (You can listen to a clip or buy it here: http://www.amazon.com/Octopus/dp/B000QMQHIG).

Click on the image to view and/or print.

Searching for Shark Teeth and Seashells

Put several shark teeth or seashells (fake or real) in your sand table. Let your children sift through the sand and find the teeth shells.

Shark Tag

Have one (or several children) be the shark. The rest of your children must try to cross the ocean (a set space that you specify) and not get eaten (tagged) by the shark. If they get caught then they join the shark to try to catch more fish. Keep playing until everyone has a chance to start as the shark.

We all live in a... Submarine

Build a submarine by attaching several boxes and making small doors for your children to go between them. Provide clothing and equipment for them to pretend to scuba dive outside the submarine too.

Daddy's biking clothes, a backpack and some
ski goggles transformed my son into a scuba diver.
It's amazing what the imagination of a child can create!

Seaweed & Fish Tasting

Buy different types of seaweed (health food or ethnic grocery store) and fish for your children to taste a small portion of each type. Encourage them talk about which types they like the most and least.

My Own Ocean

Kids can paint wax paper like the sea (blue & green). Then they can draw and cut out fish to stick on the sea.

Ocean Habitat Experiment

Talk about the different habitats and animals in the ocean, and how some animals live near the top of the ocean in warmer water (fish, etc), others live lower in cooler water (whales, etc). Do a water temperature experiment, to see how the cold water sinks. Fill a large container with warm water. Fill a small bottle with cold water and add some blue food coloring. Cover the mouth of the bottle and lower it sideways into the large container. Let it go and watch as the cold water sinks and stays at the bottom.
You can also create a mural of ocean habitats, using the following printouts from http://www.learningpage.com:

Click on and of the above images to view and/or print.

Playing Beach

Set up a beach pretend play area with any of the following: beach balls, volleyballs, frisbee's, towels, sunglasses, sand toys, etc.

How Long is a Whale?

Ask your kids how long they think the largest creature in the world is. Then get a long rope (about 100 feet) and have them unwind it. Tell them that is how long a blue whale is. Next ask them how many of their lengths it would take to make a blue whale.

Ocean Journal Page

Read a book about oceans then hand out a journal sheet with this question on it: "What would you like to see if you could go diving in the ocean?" Record the children's responses and let them draw a picture to go along with their response.

Click on the image to view and/or print.

Ocean Imprints

Give each of your children some play-dough and let them explore making imprints with different ocean items (seashells, starfish, etc.).

Homemade Play Dough
2 cups flour
2 cups water
food coloring
1 cup salt
4 teaspoons cream of tartar
2 Tablespoons oil
Combine all ingredients (add coloring with water). Mix until smooth. Cook over medium heat, stirring and scraping the side and bottom constantly. When stiff, scrape out of pan, knead until smooth.

Pasta Shell Painting

Give your children large pasta shells (the bigger the better) then have them paint them any way that they want. Explain to your children that no two shells are the same just like their shell creations are all different.

Ocean Lesson Plan

Click on the image to view and/or print.