I can’t wait to share these ocean activities for preschoolers with you. While we are all stuck at home suddenly homeschooling or looking for ideas to send to our preschool students at home, I have decided to create as many free resources for homeschooling preschool as I can. In this post, you will find two craft ideas, a math game, a song, as well as some book suggestions. The craft ideas use everyday items that families should be able to find easily without having to run out to the store while social distancing. For an added dose of fun, I will be LIVE crafting both these ocean crafts, singing the song, and demoing how to play this math game too! 8 am PDT Monday, March 23rd ( that’s 11 am EDT) on my Facebook Page. I will add the video here after the broadcast. Ready for some rad ocean activities for preschoolers?
Ocean Crafts for Preschoolers
Toilet Paper Roll Fish – I love this craft. It’s cute, it requires some concentration, and it cheers up any place you decide to pop it! It is one of my favorite ocean activities for preschoolers.
Paper Plate Jellyfish – use what you have, and this craft like the previous does just that!
Click here to go to my Facebook Page
Ocean Math Game
I love roll and cover games because they are SO easy to differentiate and use for learners of various abilities. Oh, and YES, I added more circles on the printable because there weren’t enough, but it takes a lot of ink, so I didn’t reprint!
Gather your materials. You will need a die or dice, a tray, something to mark the spots ( I am using buttons but coins work too), and the printable. Print yours out here.
Roll and cover the same number of dots as you rolled. Keep going until covered. For older kiddos, use two dice and have them do some addition!
In The Ocean Blue Song
Print out your lyrics here. I know singing can be uncomfortable for some adults, but it’s such a beneficial literacy activity to play with words in all different forms. To hear the tune watch me sing it live here!
Ocean Books For Preschool
Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae is a delightful book full of rhymes about all sorts of sea creatures, including jellyfish. Each page has a rhyming text that goes along with the animal. The book is cute, and the illustrations are bright and bold. My son enjoyed it, pointing out the animals. That said, it’s not a must-buy, more like a great to have on hand when you are specifically learning about the subject.
Secret Seahorse by Stella Blackstone is a fascinating and beautiful board book. The story follows a little seahorse that hides on each page as it makes its way along the ocean back to its family. The illustrations are felt, fabric, sequins, and other fun and gorgeous hand-stitched creations. I am never ready for the next page because the present one has so much to look and marvel at. Kids like finding the seahorse on each page too! My son and I re-read this tonight to my daughter, and she liked it, but he was still loving it, which is pretty impressive for a board book. It’s just so pretty!
A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle is a book I have owned for many years. It offers so many learning opportunities for young readers and doesn’t lose any of the entertainment in trying too hard to teach. The hermit crab feels drab, and each month he asks different sea creatures to help decorate his shell. As the shell is getting more and more beautiful, it’s also getting more and more snug. The book teaches about sea creatures, months of the year, and moving. More than moving, it teaches about change . Change is difficult for all of us but a little trickier for most preschoolers, which makes this book so valuable.
For more Ocean Books For Preschoolers, click here !
If you need more Ocean ideas – check out our Under The Sea printable thematic unit. Get 50% off with code “live”
Tracy D. says
Toilet paper rolls have been banned for preschool crafts by health inpectors. I see you use a lot of them for crafts.
Allison McDonald says
I have been using them more since we have been in quarantine as I want to offer families activities they can use with things that they have. You can buy them new from craft stores if they are banned by your local licensing agencies or choose another craft. I don’t actually use them in my preschool class at all. You can use Paper towel rolls too.
Reba Huffines says
What state are you in?
lisa Nudelman says
Why are they banned?
Anurag Nautiyal says
Great Activity and Nice blog.