We are heading to the beach later this week, so I thought it would be fun to do some movement activities that involved ocean animals. This was a big hit and I think we'll be doing it again this afternoon when my son wakes up from his nap!
Materials Needed: ocean animal action cards pdf file (download them here), colored cardstock, and painters tape. Optional: soccer ball and contact paper to use to laminate cards.
* I chose ocean animal names that started with a variety of letters and had actions that were easy and do-able.
(forgot to include the humpback in this picture)
Directions:
1. Print out the ocean animal action cards on colored cardstock. You can also color them if you'd like (or have your child color them), we opted not to color today.
2. Tape the cards on the floor. Try to spread them around the room so that you have space between each card for movement. This would work in a open room/space or on a patio.
3. Start the movement activities!! There are several variations you can try depending on the level of your child.
- Start by walking around (or running) to each card with your child. When you get to a card, point to the picture, say the name of the ocean animal, read the action statement, and then demonstrate how your child can do the action stated. Have them copy you and then move to the next card.
Opening and closing his clam's shell quickly
Swimming around the carpet with a fin on his head, like a shark
Digging in the sand like a crab
An octopus shooting water from his body
A lobster hiding at the bottom of the ocean
Singing like a humpback whale
Jumping in the water like a dolphin
Blowing bubbles and making faces like a fish
- Once I had introduced all the cards, I would say the name of an ocean animal and my son and I would try and find it, stand by (or on) the card, and do the action quickly... and then we'd move on to the next animal I would say.
- After he learned all the ocean animal names and actions, I would say, "Find the animal that... and I'd state an action (ex. sings under the water)" and he'd run over and stand on the humpback whale card and sing. We did this until he got bored.
- We also incorporated his soccer ball into the activity and I would say, "dribble your ball over and find the... (ex. fish)." He would kick the ball over and try and trap it on top of the correct card.
- When he was bored of dribbling the ball, I had him pick up the ball and bounce it on the card that I talked about. For example, "Bounce the ball on the card that tells you to dig"... or an easier one, "Bounce the card on the humpback whale." He would bounce the ball once on the correct card and we'd move on. He loved this and it helped him practice aiming the ball.
- Next we worked on letter recognition and I would say, "Find the animal that starts with the letter..." (ex. O... and he'd go find octopus). This activity was a lot harder for him since he is still at the very basic level of learning his alphabet letters. He needed some prompting to focus on the letters at the beginning of the words. For older kids this would be a great activity as you talk about initial sounds of words. You could have the kids tell you the letter at the beginning of the word and the sound that it makes.
- For older kids who can already read or who are learning to read, you can have them try and find the action words in the sentences. For example, "Find the card that tells you to... jump." They can go to the dolphin card, read the name of the ocean animal, do the action, and attempt to read the sentence about the animal.
- We also talked about colors during this activity. I tried to put each animal on a different colored piece of cardstock... so sometimes I would say, "Go find the... orange jellyfish." This was a very simple activity and would be perfect for younger kids who are learning their colors. Not only does it reinforce learning colors, but also teaches them some new vocabulary words.
The main reason this activity was so fun was because it provided for a lot of variation, which kept it interesting. It also worked on a broad range of skills- from color recognition to listening comprehension to letter and word identification, etc.
Additional Ocean Activities:
If you want to do some ocean crafts along with these movement activities, I love this book by Sally and Stewart Walton. It has some great ideas.
Other fun crafts can be found on some of these sites...
Toothpick Sea Urchin Craft at No Time for Flashcards
Egg Carton Sea Creatures at Family Crafts
Ocean Creatures at Totally Tots (lots of different ideas from several other websites)
We will probably be trying some of these out later this week!
I teach a preschool class, and this would be a fun activity for them when we do our "Beach Day in February". Could you please email me the pics? Thanks so much!
This looks like a fantastic idea. Could you please send me a copy? [email protected]
Would love a copy. E11mm[at]yahoo.com
These are so creative. Would you be able to send me a copy too? Would love to incorporate these for our preschoolers. tserene3[at]yahoo.com. Thanks so much for sharing
I'm so tickled to find your Ocean Week! We will be playing with our grandguys while Mommy and Daddy take a cruise. So we will be learning about boats and fish and seashells. This Ocean Movement game will be fun to outside with squirt guns, wading pool and sand box…as long as it doesn't rain!!
I work with special needs children and these would be a great addition for our ocean unit. Would you send them to me? [email protected]
Would love a copy. kionee3[at]yahoo.com
Love this idea.
pleadr please email me a copy.
christy04[at]hotmail.com
thanks
I would love a copy too, Please.
missycwu[at]hotmail.com
Thanks!
I would love a copy too please….
cheekylauren[at]yahoo.com
thanks – such a great idea !!
I would also love a copy of these please. chasidyann[at]gmail.com
thank you
Can you send these too me?? They are phenomenal!! [email protected]
This is fantastic! Would you send me a copy?? [email protected]
I love these and would love to use them with my students. We are about to start an Under the Sea theme. I clicked on the link above but it would not load. Would you be willing to email me a file? [email protected]
Thanks!!
Thanks for the cute movement cards. I printed them off to use with my group.
Love this!! I would love a copy of the animal movement pdf. Could I please have a copy? [email protected]
Love this! I work with 24 two year olds and they would love it too! Can I please have a copy? kbashucky1515[at]gmail.com thanks a bunch!
Could you please send me the pdf for this. businessonly54[at]hotmail.com Thank you
I would love the file too email mom1_elbuac[at]yahoo.com Thank you!
Love this activity! My daycare kids would love it to, would you be able to send me the file, true_quartnea[at]hotmail.com. Thanks
What a fun activity could you send me the file at jakobsfarm5[at]hotmail.com. Thanks
LOVE this idea for gross motor! Could you please send me the files to print, [email protected]. Thank you!
Yes! I will!
I love this activity. Would you please send me a copy of the pdf file?
mitrapag[at]yahoo.com
I would like to share this activity with my children, may I have a copy and please send to iv.yongpy[at]gmail.com Thank you 🙂
We are about to begin an ocean unit and I would love a copy of these! Thanks so much!
rowbinemichelle[at]hotmail.com
I would like a copy of these pictures please! You can send them to my email at [email protected] Thank you 🙂
These are great – I'm going to link this in a roundup I'm writing about the ocean theme;)
This looks great! May I please have a copy? [email protected] Thank you. Joanne
I would love a copy please to thegirlwhopaintedtrees[at]gmail.com
These are fabulous. Thank yoU!
Fabulous! please send a copy to rickireckless[at]gmail.com
I love this! Could you email me a copy to slaurier[at]hotmail.com
Is there any way I could get a PDF of your game? I am a new SAHM to a three year old, and am at a loss of what to do to entertain him all day that don't involve sitting in front of the TV. Maybe I'll get this someday. 🙂
Thanks!
nicolerichins(at)gmail.com
hi there! recently found your site and you've got great ideas! thanks for sharing. could you please email me the pdf for the ocean animal cards? my email is [email protected].
thank you–stacey
Hi Tanya,
Unfortunately I don't see an email address. Pass one along and I would love to send you the pdf.
cou;d you please send me a copy of the pdf for ocean animals. cheers Tanya
Planning ahead for my ocean theme – and – these are too cool! I would love a copy.
[email protected]
another awesome one! can you send it myway too….
celtic6momma [at]gmail . com
Sorry, I just noticed the email part. I would love a copy. Thanks for the great idea!
amyelizabethpayne[at]gmail.com
Is the PDF not on your site? Could you email me a copy please? amyelizabethpayne[at]gmail.com
That singing like a humpback whale picture is awesome! 🙂 I love this idea.
You mentioned having a hard time coming up with nursery ideas–I'd be happy to brainstorm with you if you want! Just email me. 😉 mysillyeagle[at]gmail.com
I too would love a copy! Please email to [email protected]. Thanks!
What a cute new way to get the kids moving! Would love to get a copy email- tramcdermott at yahoo dot com. Thanks!
I love this! Could you email me a copy to ssbaugh[at]yahoo.com? Thanks!
Another great activity that I know my son would once again love! Could I please have a copy … thanks so much 🙂
Rachael ([email protected])
Great idea! I love how you are always combining so many different learning opportunities into an action based activity.