30+ Fantastic Activities for a Preschool Ocean Theme

Oh, how I love a good preschool ocean theme! Of course, the following ideas would be wonderful for a kindergarten ocean theme, too! Or adapt them for older children, as well! This collection is broken down into categories so you can find exactly what you want- arts and crafts, sensory bins, science, play doughs, math, literacy, and snacks.

Amazing Ideas for a Preschool Ocean Theme!

ART & CRAFTS

Let the kiddos get creative as they learn about the ocean:

Shell Painting with Watercolors – Fun-A-Day
Cardboard Aquarium Craft – MollyMoo
Toy Surfboard Craft for Kids – Play Trains
Create and Ocean Play Scene – Paint on the Ceiling
Coffee Filter Seahorse Art – Planet Smarty Pants

SENSORY BINS

Hands-on sensory play ideas for an ocean theme:

Super Simple Ocean Sensory Bin – Fun-A-Day
Taste-Safe Play Sand & Beach Small World – Fun-A-Day
Ocean Floor Discovery Bin – My Nearest and Dearest
Giant Sensory Lagoon – Twodaloo
Ocean Sensory Tray with Frozen Rice – The Imagination Tree

SCIENCE

Activities for your little oceanographers:

Frozen Ocean Animal Rescue – Mama.Papa.Bubba
Explore Ocean Zones with Under the Sea Bottle – KCEdventures
Invitation to Explore Ocean Water – Little Bins for Little Hands
Ocean Science for Kids – Salt Water and Waves – Gift of Curiosity
Octopus Black Ink Experiment – Learn.Play.Imagine

PLAY DOUGHS

Sensory meets arts/crafts for more ocean fun:

Taste-Safe Coconut Cloud Dough – Fun-A-Day!
Sea Life Play Dough Imprints – Plain Vanilla Mom
Beach Sand Cloud Dough Recipe (with Real Sand) – Fun at Home with Kids
Rocky Shore Small World with Play Dough – Buggy and Buddy
Natural Sand Play Dough – Creative Playhouse

MATH

Ocean math ideas to get the kiddos counting and sorting:

$Math fun for a preschool ocean theme$

Shell Sorting – No Time for Flashcards
Counting Pearls for Shells – Rockabye Butterfly
Sorting and Graphing Shells – One Time Through
Fishbowl Counting Mats – The Preschool Toolbox
Fish Math – Mom to 2 Posh L’il Divas

LITERACY

Ways to encourage literacy learning during a preschool ocean theme:

Sea Shell Letter Match – And Next Comes L
Ocean and Beach Books for Preschoolers – Mamas Like Me
Sight Word Seashells – NurtureStore
Don’t Soak the Shark Letter Matching Game – Toddler Approved
Montessori-Inspired Beach Language Activities – Living Montessori Now at PreK and K Sharing

SNACKS

Make those snacks even better with these ocean twists:

Jellyfish for Lunch – JDaniel4’s Mom
Sand Dollar Cookies – Diamonds for Dessert
Seashell Snack and Play – Fantastic Fun and Learning
Fine Motor Fishing Snack – Twodaloo
Under the Sea Snack – Creative Kid Snacks

Would you add any other ideas to this preschool ocean theme? Check out Fun-A-Day’s early childhood themes page for more themed fun and learning!

Preschool Ocean Theme Lesson Plans

Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.