Ocean or Sea Themes & Activities for Preschoolers

Simple Activities

• For a simple activity, allow the preschoolers to color ocean-themed coloring pages. Print ocean-themed coloring pages containing crabs, lobster, fish, boats, jellyfish, dolphins, seashells and sharks. The children can use crayons, coloring pencils and markers to color the pictures. If the picture has the seashore on it, have the preschoolers paint a thin layer of glue on the picture and sprinkle it with sand. Other simple activities include coloring seashells with markers or paint pens and ocean jars. Make an ocean jar by adding water to a clear jar with a few drops of blue food coloring. The children can add sand and plastic toy fish.

Seashell Activities

• Fill a small plastic swimming pool with play sand and a variety of seashells. (Seashells can be purchased at craft stores.) Allow each preschooler to sift for 10 seashells. Once he has 10 seashells, he can create a seashell collage on a sheet of card stock. For added decoration, have him paint a thin layer of glue around the seashells and sprinkle with blue glitter to make the sparkling ocean. The children can also string seashells that have a hole onto string or yarn to create jewelry.

Ocean Games

• Play a couple of ocean-themed games and award the winners small prizes. Tape a blue poster board on the bottom of a cardboard box. Cut holes in the "ocean" and write names of ocean-themed items under each hole, such as "seashell," "fish" and "shark." The children should toss a seashell, fish and toy shark into the corresponding holes. For another idea, print several ocean items on sheets of paper and scatter them around the room. Tell each child to stand on a picture and call out a name. The preschooler standing on that ocean item wins a prize.

Other Activities

• Have the preschoolers work together to make a large treasure chest. Give the children a large cardboard box. They can paint the box with brown, gold and black paint. The preschoolers can glue plastic gold coins, rhinestones and beads to the treasure chest. They can also place stickers all over the box. Fill the box with stickers, coloring books, crayons, small toys and shells to give away as prizes at a later date. Help the preschoolers make scuba masks by cutting oval border shapes out of poster board. Have the preschoolers glue a piece of clear cellophane inside the border. Poke holes where the mouth goes and attach elastic on each mask so the children can wear it.