Fine Motor Activity: Puffy Sticker Ocean
Supplies: Puffy Stickers on a Plastic Backing, Blue Construction Paper and Any Other Items to Decorate Their “Ocean”
Directions: Give your child a piece of blue construction paper and a sheet of the puffy stickers. Have your child remove the puffy sticker from the plastic backing and put it onto the construction paper to create their very own “ocean.” Once they have finished putting their puffy stickers on the paper give them any other materials you have to decorate and create their very own “ocean.”
Skills Learned: Develops fine motor skills by using movement and concentration which are necessary for early writing. Hand-eye coordination and control. Builds their creativity and confidence by creating their own perception of the ocean.
Gross Motor/Music & Movement Activity: Beach Ball Bounce
Supplies: Blow Up Beach Balls and A Wide Open Space
Directions: Throw or swat the beach balls so the kids can catch them or bounce them off their heads! Let the kids take turns kicking the beach balls as well. Take it one step further by counting how many times you throw and catch the ball or how many times you can bounce it back and forth before it hits the ground! For the music portion of this activity play Beach Boys songs in the background.
Skills Learned: Develops gross motor skills by using movement, concentration and balance. Hand-eye coordination and control. Math and quantity recognition. Encourages healthy bodies with constant movement.
Math & Manipulative Activity: Cheesy Ocean Snack
Supplies: Softened Whipped Cream Cheese, Ziploc Bag, Blue Food Coloring, Any Type of Cracker, Pita, etc., and Goldfish Crackers
Directions: Have your child scoop some of the softened whipped cream cheese in the Ziploc bag, then have them add a few drops of the blue food coloring. Seal the bag tightly and squish the baggie to make the cream cheese blue. Have your child spread the cream cheese onto the crackers that you chose, we used graham crackers! Have your child add goldfish to complete their cracker ocean. Encourage your child to count the goldfish as they add them. Also, take this time with your child to explain the importance of nutrition and healthy snacking!
Skills Learned: Hand-eye coordination and control. Math and quantity recognition. This also builds on their ability to follow one-three step instruction. Opens their eyes to a healthy lifestyle and balanced eating.
Creative Expression Activity: Sea Stamping
Supplies: Sea Animal Shaped Cookie Cutters and/or Sand Toy, Paint and Something to Put the Paint on
Directions: Pour some paint onto a paper plate, tray, etc. Give your child the sea shaped cookie cutters or sand toys that you picked out. Have your child dip the cookie cutter or sand toy in a thin layer of paint. Then have them stamp onto blue paper. Take this opportunity to discuss the ocean and it’s plants and animals with your child. Discuss the difference between the animals and the difference between land and sea.
Skills Learned: Builds their creativity and confidence. Promotes scientific thinking and an appreciation for our planet. Language development using descriptive words by describing the color, shape, and size of the animals they are stamping. Emotional and social skills by having the children cooperate and control their efforts.
Science & Sensory Activity: Sand N’ Surf
Supplies: A Tray Full Of Sand, A Bowl Full of Blue Water, Tongs, and Seashells
Directions: Have your child use the tongs to transport the seashells from the “beach” (sand filled tray) to the “ocean” (bowl of blue water). Encourage them to use descriptive words about the seashells by asking them if they are big or small, smooth or bumpy, etc. To take it one step further have your child focus on counting the seashells as they move them from the tray to the bowl. Please note, this makes an excellent outdoor activity as many children will want to play in the sand and water after the activity is finished!
Skills Learned: Language development using descriptive words by describing the seashells. Develops fine motor skills by using movement and concentration. Hand-eye coordination and control. Math and quantity recognition. Emotional and social skills by having the children cooperate and control their efforts. This also builds on their ability to follow one-three step instruction.
Language Learning Activity: Fishy Feeling Language Bucket
Supplies: Bucket and Sea Animal Figures/Toys
Directions: Place the assortment of sea animals into the bucket. Have your child close their eyes, reach into the bucket and pull out one of the sea animals. Encourage your child to talk about each animal, describing how it looks, feels, moves, what sounds it makes and where it lives. Additionally, you can make a super easy “feely bucket” out of a blue container and a blue t-shirt stretched over it and tied together on the bottom of the container. This special container is meant to simulate the ocean!
Skills Learned: Language development, using descriptive words to express the different features of the animals. Emotional and social skills by having the children cooperate and take turns with one another. Promotes scientific thinking and an appreciation for our planet. This also builds on their ability to follow one-three step instruction.