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Sunken Treasures

Undersea Environment

What lies beneath the sea? Children will learn about the ocean and create an underwater scene.

Lesson Plan

Supplies Needed

Gather all the supplies needed to bring your craft ideas to life! From paints and markers to glue and scissors, our crafts section has everything to spark creativity and make every project truly special.

Steps

  • Step 1

    Have a discussion about the world's oceans. Tell children that most of the Earth (over 70%) is covered with water. Explain that winds cause the waves on the ocean's surface, and the tides are caused by the gravitational pull of the moon. The ocean is home to many forms of life including various species of animals, plants, algae, fungi, and more.  Read a book such as "Commotion in the Ocean" by Giles Andreae and David Wojtowycz or "Moonlight Ocean" by Elizabeth Golding and Ali Lodge. Discuss the various forms of marine life in each book.

  • Step 2

    Have children look at images of marine life, perhaps some of the photos taken by oceanographer Jacques Cousteau. Then ask them to create an ocean scene using crayons and watercolor paints. They could also cut ocean figures such as fish, coral, seaweed, or anything else out of heavy paper or recycled materials and glue them onto their scene. Or they could sculpt figures out of Model Magic to include in their art.

  • Step 3

    When their art is done, have them present it to the class and talk about some of the interesting facts they learned about the ocean and marine life.

Standards

SCI: Design pictorial or graphic representations/models that are useful in communicating ideas. 

SCI: Use observations to describe patterns of what plants and animals (including humans) need to survive.

Adaptations

There are about 2.2 pounds of salt in one gallon of sea water. And there is about 10 times that amount in the Dead Sea, which makes it nearly impossible for someone to sink while swimming in it. Conduct experiments with the class by adding table salt to potable water and having the children observe how much of the salt they add (in various quantities) is readily absorbed. Have students taste tiny bits of the various amounts of salt in water saturation.

Challenge the class to choreograph an ocean dance. How could they move like an octopus, sea horse, or crab? Can they imitate seaweed swaying beneath the sea?