Dolphin Activities for Second Grade

Clay Crafts

• Give each second grader a tub of blue or gray modeling clay to sculpt a dolphin. The children can use pictures of dolphins as guides to sculpt the dolphins. Make dolphin keepsakes by allowing the children to sculpt the dolphins in self-hardening clay instead of play clay. Allow the dolphins to dry and harden overnight. The children can paint the clay using acrylic paints. Turn this craft into a contest by awarding prizes to the best, most creative and most realistic-looking dolphins.

Educational Games

• Practice addition problems with your second graders through entertaining games. Write numbers on dolphins and scatter them around the room. Call two or three students at a time to compete. Read an addition problem like ̶0;8 + 8.̶1; The first student to find the dolphin with the number 16 on it wins the game and a small prize. Alternatively, use subtraction, multiplication and division problems instead of addition problems. You can also play this game in teams by dividing the students into two teams. Each team selects one player at a time to compete for the answer. Each correct answer earns the team a point and the team that earns 10 points first wins the game.

Documentary Activities

• Divide the students into two teams. Give each team white paper, crayons, markers, paint, glue, tape and a few dolphin books that contain facts about dolphins. The children must make a dolphin documentary using the supplies provided. For example, tell the children to fold the papers in half to create a book. They must write dolphin facts on each page. If the students can use the Internet, have them complete research online and print pictures for the documentary. Have each team present its dolphin documentary to the class and award prizes to the team with the best book.

Dolphin Ocean Crafts

• Each second-grader can make an ocean with dolphins. Fill an empty and clean baby food jar half way with water. Add blue food coloring and fill the rest of the way with clear vegetable oil. Place miniature plastic dolphins in each jar and seal the lids tight. When they shake the jars, the dolphins will ̶0;swim̶1; around the jar. For added decoration, give the children glitter and seashells to add to the jar. They can make large oceans using plastic soda bottles.