Fun ocean science experiments and ocean theme activities for preschoolers and beyond are a perfect way to spend time at the beach or prepare for a trip to the ocean. Use these ocean science activities with kids of all ages at home or for a classroom ocean theme. Science activities are also a wonderful addition to a classroom under the sea theme. Simple preschool science activities encourage kids to learn about and explore the world around them, including our amazing oceans!
FUN OCEAN ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOLERS AND ELEMENTARY
LEARN ABOUT THE OCEAN
We love visiting the ocean and have the good fortune to be able to go each year! Even if you don’t have the chance to get to the beach you can still have fun with beach and ocean theme activities at home or in the classroom.
We love to share simple science activities that young kids can really get their hands on and enjoy. Our favorite ocean activities also include many hands-on playful projects as well! Our activities are usually simple to set up, inexpensive, and easy for anyone to share with kids.
AWESOME OCEAN SCIENCE ACTIVITIES
Originally we started with just six ocean theme ideas, but now we have over 16 ideas for an under the sea theme.
Click here for your FREE Printable Ocean Pack!
OCEAN SLIME
Our homemade ocean slime recipe is a real favorite, with the shimmer and color of the ocean. Plus, making ocean slime is also an awesome chemistry lesson for kids!
SAND SLIME
Another awesome slime recipe, this sand slime can be made with actual beach sand or craft sand! This is a fun hands-on science activity for an under the sea preschool theme. Watch the video!
OCEAN THEME FLUFFY SLIME
This is the best fluffy slime ever for ocean science with kids! Our easy to make fluffy slime recipe is so quick and simple, you will be whipping up mounds of the lightest, puffiest slime you have ever seen. Decorate with shells and gems or small plastic sea creatures! Watch the video!
OCEAN WAVES IN A BOTTLE
Create your own soothing ocean wave in the bottle and explore liquid density too!
CAN YOU DISSOLVE A SHELL?
Find out what happens to shells when you add them to vinegar. Learn about what shells are made of and how we need to protect our oceans!
SALTWATER DENSITY EXPERIMENT
Why do some objects sink in freshwater and float in saltwater? Find out what happens when you add increased amounts of salt to water with this simple saltwater density experiment. Watch the video!
HOW DO FISH BREATHE?
A simple experiment to set up that will show your kiddos how fish breathe underwater! Complete with an easy to understand explanation of the concepts.
HOW DO SHARKS FLOAT?
Or why is it that sharks don’t sink in the ocean? Learn about how these great fish coast around through the ocean with this simple ocean science activity.
Check out more awesome shark week activities here.
HOW DOES A SQUID MOVE?
A few simple supplies help kiddos see and understand how a squid moves around in the ocean!
FUN FACTS ABOUT NARWHALS
Learn about the amazing unicorns of the sea, Narwhals with these fun and easy STEM activities. Plus, we share with you fun facts we’ve discovered about Narwhals.
STARFISH CRAFT
Make your own starfish or sea stars with our simple salt dough recipe. Learn about these amazing sea creatures while modeling out your own to keep.
Click here for your FREE Printable Ocean Activities.
BEACH IN A BOTTLE
Make a fun sensory bottle with a beach theme. Science discovery bottles are a great way for little hands to explore!
OCEAN SENSORY BOTTLE
Here’s another version of our popular glitter bottle that is fun for young kids to make and explore.
OCEAN IN A BOTTLE
Explore 3 ways to create your own gorgeous and playful ocean in a bottle. Another fun variation of our ocean sensory bottle above! Watch the video!
OCEAN BIOME
What is it about the ocean that makes it unique for the animals and plants that live there? Learn what a biome is and discovers examples of biomes around the world including the ocean with this fun printable lapbook project.
BLUBBER EXPERIMENT
How do whales stay warm? Investigate these great creatures with a classic science experiment!
Check out The Complete Ocean Science and STEM Pack in our SHOP!
BEACH EROSION ACTIVITY
Each year beaches erode more and more! How does beach erosion happen? Set up this simple beach erosion model to demonstrate and enjoy the hands-on exploration!
CRYSTAL SEASHELLS
Learn how to growing borax crystals on seashells for an awesome ocean project for kids! Growing crystals is a great chemistry activity for kids to learn about dissolving a solid in a liquid and suspension solutions. Usually, you grow crystals with pipe cleaners but this time we used seashells to demonstrate the process.
OCEAN SENSORY BIN
This fun preschool ocean activity will really keep the kiddos engaged as they free sea creatures from the icy, frozen ocean! Learn about different forms of matter with this simple ice melt science activity!
OCEAN RECYCLING
A simple ocean recycling activity to learn about pollution in the oceans and the importance of recycling. An awesome play activity and a great learning experience all in one!
Also Check Out: Recycling Science Projects
MATH WITH SEASHELLS
Measure, sort, and classify all different kinds of seashells. Explore math concepts of pattern and size for this hands-on under the sea math lesson for preschoolers.
GLOWING JELLYFISH CRAFT
Make a fun DIY jellyfish that will glow in the dark, similar to jellyfish in the ocean. Learn fun facts about jellyfish, and how they really aren’t fish.
OCEAN SALT PAINTING
Combine a popular kitchen ingredient and a bit of physics for cool art and science that everyone is sure to love! Even take this ocean activity outside on a lovely day.
MAP THE OCEAN FLOOR
What does the ocean floor look like? Represent the topography or physical features on land and on the ocean floor with easy DIY shaving cream paint.
MORE OCEAN THEME ACTIVITIES
DIY TOUCH POOL
It’s easier than you might think! I used a milk carton to create this ocean theme touch pool and cut off the top so I was left with a rectangular box with an open end. Last weekend we went to the beach for a family day and I thought it would be fun to collect items from the beach to bring home. We found shells, rocks, sea glass, and various kinds of seaweed. We also brought home beach sand for our sand slime.
For the first layer of the milk carton, I added sand, some shells, and water. Once frozen, I repeated the process in small layers until I filled the container. The sand was only in the bottom layer.
Once your carton is completely frozen, you can tear away the cardboard. Place in a dish or bin to catch the melting water. Use squeeze bottles, eye droppers, and scoops to help melt the ice and dig out the beach treasure!
Check out the melted ice block. It looks just like a mini beach scene and the sand was a perfect addition to making you feel like you are still at the ocean.
What remained from our ocean ice tower, was a beautiful representation of the ocean. We had our own little touch pool! I laid out a tray, tongs and a magnifying glass so we could look at, examine, feel and even smell our beach finds! Add some beach books and explore!
FIZZY OCEAN SCIENCE EXPERIMENT
Baking soda and vinegar experiment is always fun! I simply buried shells and a few plastic starfish under baking soda. I gave my kiddo little bowls of yellow, green and blue colored vinegar and an eye dropper to color his own ocean and find the sea life!
I can’t wait to get back to the beach again this year and talk even more about what we have learned! We plan to take a hands on discovery cruise out of Woods Hole this year, a whale watch, and of course lots of walks on the beach.
Summertime is a wonderful opportunity for ocean science activities. No trip to the beach planned? Shells from the craft store, natural colored sand, and seaweed from the specialty food store will do the trick!
FUN OCEAN SCIENCE ACTIVITIES FOR PRESCHOOL OCEAN THEME!
Discover more fun and easy science & STEM activities right here. Click on the link or on the image below.
Check out The Complete Ocean Science and STEM Pack in our SHOP!
I love the ocean ice melting block! That looks like a lot of fun on a hot day!
Love the little ocean touch tray you guys created! So neat! And you brought home seaweed??? What a great idea!
LOVE these ideas! We are doing a big vacation to the ocean this summer, so we’ll be sure to use some of these ideas with shells that we find when we return! Pinned!
What a fab collection! We had some bugs hiding in our ice blocks this week 😉 But totally love the idea of seaside shells and more. Must do when we get back from our holidays next week.
Lots of fun ideas!! Thank you for sharing at Sharing Saturday!
Its very very useful Article. You are rightly guided us . Teaching Our Kid Is Nowadays are Very Challenging…So we have to teach them and keep them updated. Recently i searched for a new type of teaching like, teach our kids via app so i am collecting app… recently i got this app.This Learn Underwater application, will help the kids to distinguish between different aquatic species like sea horse, whale, angel fish and octopus.
https://play.google.com/store/apps/details?id=com.ajax.underwater
What beautiful pictures – you make all of these activities look so appealing. Such a brilliant idea to grow the crystals on shells – magical!
Thank you! I love the ocean and beach. We still have the shells too.
In ocean discovering bottle ,the bottle we have to take of glass or not?
Plastic works great!