• Menu
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

Before Header

Little Bins Members

Little Bins for Little Hands

Simple Science and STEM for Every Day

Header Right

  • STEM
    • Jr Engineer
    • Coding
    • STEM CHALLENGES
  • Science Activities
    • Earth Sciences
      • Geology
      • Space
      • Ocean
      • Weather
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
  • Seasonal
    • Fall
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter
    • Christmas
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Spring
    • St Patricks Day
    • Easter
    • Earth Day
    • Summer
    • 4th of July
  • Art
    • Famous Artists
    • Process Art
      • 10+ Easy Homemade Paint Recipes For Kids
  • Slime
  • LEGO
  • Shop
  • Join
    • Little Bins Club
    • Library Club

Mobile Menu

  • STEM
    • Jr Engineer
    • Coding
    • STEM CHALLENGES
  • Science Activities
    • Earth Sciences
      • Geology
      • Space
      • Ocean
      • Weather
    • Chemistry
    • Physics
  • Seasonal
    • Fall
    • Halloween
    • Thanksgiving
    • Winter
    • Christmas
    • Valentine’s Day
    • Spring
    • St Patricks Day
    • Easter
    • Earth Day
    • Summer
    • 4th of July
  • Art
    • Famous Artists
    • Process Art
      • 10+ Easy Homemade Paint Recipes For Kids
  • Slime
  • LEGO
  • Shop
  • Join
    • Little Bins Club
    • Library Club

Whales & Water Ocean Theme Activities Preschool

Ocean Sensory Play and Early Learning 

Hands-On Preschool Activities

ocean sensory play and early learning activities

Our spontaneous whales and water ocean theme has so far been a big hit around here. I decided to continue the momentum by preparing several activities the night before for him to do in the morning. I was still not expecting him to jump right in and I didn’t want to push him to do so. Simply, I wanted to offer him some ideas for play with or without me and see what he would choose if anything at all.

Invitation To Explore The Ocean

Here are the activities I decided to go with today. They really aren’t his favorites (ABC’s) but I want to make it fun and interesting. I had a lot of sensory materials out for him today. Such a trial and error with presentation!

IMG_3228

 

Corn meal sensory play with alphabet shells to put in order.

IMG_3229

Exploring whales activity with felt ocean and whale cards.

IMG_3222

Shell counting at the bottom of the ocean!

He told me he was ready to do activities and chose the corn meal alphabet first. I chose to let him help pour the corn meal out onto the try a and spread it around and play with it for a few minutes before we started. I hoped this would help him engage better. Having him helped worked out nicely, though my attempt to have him draw letters with his finger didn’t go over so well. He worked hard on his alphabet!

IMG_3241IMG_3243IMG_3245IMG_3248IMG_3251IMG_3254

We moved on tot he imaginative play part with felt ocean , whales and their fact cards. He actually again chose this and started laying out the “ocean” as he called it all on his own. I showed him how he could bunch up the felt and make waves! We looked through the cards and I named off the whales (good thing the names are on the bottom). He knew the humpback and the beluga!

IMG_3229IMG_3233IMG_3239IMG_3236

Our last activity of the morning was a bottom of the ocean counting bin with shells. I had the numbers 1-20 in a bowl and plenty of shells in a basket. He simple chose a number (out-of-order on purpose for recognition and also motivation) and counted out the shells. He cleaned up the shells and started over. Sometimes he would bury them too. Good for independent play after by adding a scoop or shovel and a bucket!

IMG_3222IMG_3258IMG_3259

I found a few short clips of whales on the computer for him to look to see how they swim and I showed him the pictures from our trip to Mystic Aquarium where there is a Beluga whale to view above and below the water. He can’t wait to go back now and neither can we!

More Ocean Activities To Try

Ocean book sensory bins to go6 Awesome Ocean Science Activities For KidsWhales and Shells Play Dough Play

Please join our sensory journey with us!

Pinterest, Facebook, G+,

or SUBSCRIBE to us by email on our side bar

 

 

 

 

Previous Post: « Play-Doh Ocean Theme Part 2: Whales, Water and Shells
Next Post: LEGO And Unifix Alphabet Building Activity For Kids »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. Jenn L

    June 10, 2013 at 1:03 am

    These are such creative ideas! I love how colorful and tactile they all are. My kids are obsessed with anything involving the ocean, so I’m sure they would love these! Thanks for sharing. 🙂

  2. Tara from The Magnolia Barn

    June 10, 2013 at 4:19 am

    I love the felt ocean activity. How fun!

  3. Jennifer

    June 10, 2013 at 10:49 pm

    In addition to Monday Kid Corner Weekly Linky Party, this week’s theme is WATER. Brush off those archives and link them up at http://thejennyevolution.com/category/linky-parties/monday-kid-corner/ See you there! Jennifer

  4. Mary Catherine

    June 11, 2013 at 12:48 pm

    What delightful ideas! I love the way you incorporated so much learning in the FUN ocean-related activities!

  5. Kristi @ The Potter's Hand Academy

    June 11, 2013 at 2:52 pm

    Such great ideas, I love them!! Thank you so much for sharing!

  6. Carla

    June 11, 2013 at 3:16 pm

    It’s so interesting that he likes them spaced out more! I love how you’re building a whole unit around his current interest–and it looks like so much fun! Thanks for sharing it at Teach Me Tuesday at Preschool Powol Packets!!

  7. littlebins

    June 11, 2013 at 4:52 pm

    He is definitely a gross motor kid and needs the sensory input constantly. We have a trampoline that he can use anytime in the work area too and we do clapping exercises to before fine motor work.

  8. littlebins

    June 11, 2013 at 4:54 pm

    Thank you! We had some fun last week for sure!

  9. littlebins

    June 11, 2013 at 4:54 pm

    Your welcome! Thank you for a great place to share!

  10. Angelue'

    June 12, 2013 at 3:54 pm

    Found your link at 1+1+1=1…These are great activities that I will definitely remember when we do our ocean study the second half of summer. Thanks for sharing!

  11. littlebins

    June 12, 2013 at 5:08 pm

    Great! Thank you for looking at what we did. I can’t wait to actually get to the ocean and see everything up close. He wants to see a real humpback whale 😉

  12. Hannah

    June 13, 2013 at 1:11 pm

    So many great ideas!! Thanks for sharing them with us at Eco-Kids Tuesday! Hope to see you again next week! http://likemamalikedaughter.blogspot.com/search/label/Eco-Kids%20Tuesday

  13. littlebins

    June 14, 2013 at 3:57 pm

    Thanks! You bet I will stop by!

  14. [email protected]

    June 14, 2013 at 8:02 pm

    what an interesting unit. we love the ocean and anything that has to do with it. Would you please share this on our #kidsinthekitchen linky this week http://lookwhatmomfound.com/2013/06/homemade-rock-candy-fail-kidsinthekitchen.html

  15. Jennifer

    June 15, 2013 at 10:11 pm

    Thanks for linking up Monday Kid Corner Weekly Linky Party. The next party goes live Sunday morning and this week’s theme is SIDEWALK CHALK. Be sure to brush off those archives as well and link them up at http://thejennyevolution.com/category/linky-parties/monday-kid-corner/ See you there! Jennifer

Primary Sidebar

We have a PASSION for SLIME, and are dedicated to helping you make the best slime ever. Questions? Just ask us!

We also LOVE science and all things STEM. Join us on our journey to discover just how cool science can be. Want to know how to get started? Click on any of the images or menu options!

Site Footer

Sign Me Up!

Take our FREE 5-Day STEM Challenge with boredom busting activity ideas for kids!

Privacy Policy