Explore ocean pollution for kids and the marine ecosystem with this hands-on water pollution sensory bin.
Teaching children about marine pollution can be difficult. It can be a boring topic for some kids and yet it’s so important to discuss the devastating human impact of water pollution.
This ocean pollution sensory bin is the perfect activity to teach about ocean plastic pollution, the ocean, and the effects it has on marine life.
It’s 100% hands-on which means kids will immediately understand what pollution is and what it does to the ocean ecosystem and the animals that live there.
If you’re looking for an engaging activity to teach younger children about ocean pollution, you’ll love this sensory bin!
Read on below to see how easy it is to teach kids about harmful pollution using these simple ocean pollution classroom activities, plus check out all of our ocean crafts for kids.
Water Pollution Activity
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Ocean Pollution Sensory Bin For Kids Supplies:
- Sensory Table or Large Plastic Bin/Tub
- Water
- Plastic Ocean Animals
- Seashells
- Toy Boat
- Cocoa Powder
- Vegetable Oil
- Plastic Bags
- Coffee Grounds
- Sponge
- Cotton Balls
- Dish Soap
- Small Scrub Brush
- Plastic Tweezers and/or Scoops
- Small Glass or Plastic Bottles with lids
- Coffee Filters
Water Pollution Sensory Tub Directions:
1. Fill your sensory table with water about halfway.
2. Take a sample of the clean water by filling a small bottle. Set aside.
3. Add plastic ocean animals, seashells, and a plastic toy boat to the water.
4. Let your children play in the clean water and have fun!
5. Mix a bit of cocoa powder and vegetable oil in a bowl. Drizzle the oil into the water, on the boat, and on the animals.
6. Let your kids examine what happened to the water. Discuss what happens when oil spills into our oceans.
7. Drop a few spoonfuls of coffee grounds into the water. Now the water is really looking dirty! The water is stained and is cloudy.
8. Shred plastic shopping bags. Add the plastic to the water and stir it around.
The plastic has really polluted the water. It’s around the animals’ necks, arms, and legs. Discuss what happens when an animal gets stuck in plastic waste.
9. Take a sample of the polluted water by filling a plastic bottle. Set aside.
10. Use plastic tweezers or scoops to remove the plastic from the water. Untangle any animals caught in the plastic.
11. Use cotton balls and sponges to absorb the oil that spilled into the water.
12. Use dish soap and a small scrub brush to clean the oil off of the plastic animals.
13. Stuff a coffee filter into the top of a small plastic bottle. Filter some of the polluted water through the bottle. Remove the coffee filter and put the lid on the bottle.
14. Place the clean ocean water sample, the polluted sample, and the sample after you filtered side by side.
Comparing these three bottles side by side helps teach children the negative effects of single-use plastics and the plastic pollution problem in our oceans.
I love teaching earth sciences using activities like this. It’s such a powerful demonstration of the environmental impact of pollution on our marine ecosystems.
Ocean Project Ideas
There’s so much for kids to learn about the underwater world, and this ocean pollution activity is just the tip of the iceberg! From crafting to fun and educational activities, here are some great ocean project ideas to explore with your little ones.
Ocean And Beach Crafts
Jellyfish Craft – This adorable jellyfish craft is a great way to teach kids about ocean animals. Using simple craft supplies, your child can create a colorful jellyfish to hang in their room or display on the wall. It’s a fun and easy project that’ll keep them entertained for hours!
Shark Headband Craft – What kid wouldn’t want to be a shark for a day? With this fun and easy craft, your child can create their very own shark headband – perfect for dress-up or a themed party. We love how this craft inspires imaginative play and encourages kids to learn about different sea creatures.
Paper Plate Crab Craft – You can get crafting in a ‘snap’ using our free printable crab template! This paper plate craft is perfect for kids of all ages to make. All you need is a paper plate, some paint, and a few other materials to create this adorable crustacean!
Octopus Handprint Craft – Have your kiddos make this adorable octopus handprint craft using their cute little hands! Perfect for an under-the-sea study unit, kids will love creating their very own octopus friend. And the best part? It makes such a sweet keepsake!
Ocean Theme Activities
These ocean themed board games are all about ocean life and the deep sea. There’s something for every kid, from strategy games to pattern-matching adventures! They’re perfect for family game nights or rainy days stuck indoors.
Download our ocean printable worksheets and introduce your kids to a world of fun and learning! Each page focuses on a different activity, such as fine motor practice or letter recognition, all while incorporating cute marine animals. These worksheets are the perfect no-prep activity!
Do your kids need a little fine motor practice? Try our jellyfish cutting activity pages for a fun and engaging way to improve their cutting skills. These adorable jellyfish pages provide cutting practice and help with hand-eye coordination and scissor control. Plus, they’re just plain cute!
This ocean animal cut and paste book would be a cute addition to any marine environment or ocean-themed lesson plans. Aside from cutting and pasting, this activity book also includes letter tracing practice to help improve handwriting skills!
More Ocean Ideas
- Ocean Themed Board Games
- 14 Awesome Shark Activities For Kids
- 10 Easy Jellyfish Activities
Fun Ocean Animal Activities For Kids
Sam is the crafter and founder of Simple Everyday Mom. She has been featured in Oprah Mag, Good Housekeeping, The Spruce Crafts, Country Living, The Bump and more. Read more.