Ocean Zones For Kids: Learning About The Amazing Ocean
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Teach the ocean zones for kids in a way that makes sense, is fun, and is engaging with this fun activity. Plus see all our fun ocean kids activities.
This last week, we’ve been learning all about the ocean and doing lots of fun ocean activities. But we’re not stopping there.
Today’s activity will help teach your child all about the zones of the oceans in an interactive, hands-on way.
Read on below to see how to do this fun and educational activity.
Ocean Zones For Kids
So far we’ve done this paper plate seahorse craft, this fish handprint craft, read a ton of ocean books for kids, learned about ocean pollution in a fun, hands-on way, played in this ocean theme preschool sensory bin, and cooled off outside with this frozen ocean sensory tub.
Continue reading on below to see how to do this oceans zones activity.
Supplies:
- Small Glass or Plastic Bottles
- Shades of Blue Cardstock
- Gluestick
- Scissors
- Water
- Blue Food Coloring
- Small Plastic Ocean Animal Toys
Directions:
1. Fill the bottles with water.
2. Add blue food coloring to each bottle. You want the bottles to go from very light blue to dark blue so add the food coloring a little at a time to achieve the desired color.
3. Screw the caps the bottles and give them a gentle shake.
4. Cut strips of blue cardstock.
5. Glue them together from the lightest blue to the darkest blue.
6. Place the bottles of water on each zone.
For visual learners, check out this short video that explains the 3 different zones in the ocean plus a few of the animals that live in each zone.
The lightest blue water represents the sunlight zone. In the sunlight zone, you’ll find ocean animals such as tiger sharks, jellyfish, sea turtles, blue whale, and dolphins.
The teal blue water represents the twilight zone. In this, zone you’ll find ocean animals such as crab, octopus, sea stars and sperm whales.
The mid-level blue water represents the midnight zone. In the midnight zone, you’ll discover ocean animals such as the sea cucumber, the anglerfish, and the vampire squid.
After teaching and discussing the three ocean zones with your child, have them sort out all their ocean animals into one of the three zones.
Once they’ve sorted all their animals, check each animal to see if your child put them in the correct ocean zone.
This is such a fun, hands-on way to help kids learn all about the zones of the ocean!
To help reinforce all the new information your kids have learned about the ocean, I’ve also included an ocean zones worksheet.
This ocean worksheet summarizes the information above and does double duty as an ocean coloring page.
Enter your email at the bottom of the page and the link to download will be emailed to you directly.
Free Ocean Zones Worksheet
Meet Sam
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.
Thank you for providing students with this layers of the ocean sheet
.
I really like the fact that students have an idea how dark the ocean can become and that there are some ocean creatures that can survive there.
Yeah, it’s crazy isn’t it?!
I’d love a copy of the ocean layers sheet to use with my summer school students!
Definitely! If you put your email in the form at the end of the post, the link will be emailed to you ?
I like the hands on activity.
Oh, so happy to hear that!
I really like the ocean zones activity. The different colored cardstock represents a challenge but I will improvise. Thanks for your innovative ideas.
Of course!
I love this idea and cannot wait to do this activity with my camp kids this summer!
So glad!
Thank you.
You’re welcome.
Thank you for the ideas and suggestions!
Of course!
looks good
Would like to use this paper in my K class.
Sounds fun! Just enter your email in the form at the end of the post and the link will be emailed to you 🙂
Could I get a copy of the ocean layers?
Thank you so much!
Totally! If you just enter your email in the form at the bottom of the post, the link will be emailed directly to you.
I love your ideas. I’d love a copy of the zones page.
Thanks Sharon! Of course! If you enter your email in the form at the end of the post, the link will be emailed to you directly. Please let me know if you run into any problems 🙂
@Sam T, I’m trying to find the form also 🙁
I’m so sorry! My site was updated yesterday and there was a conflict that didn’t allow the form to show. But, it has been fixed now so you can try again. Thanks so much for your patience!
This is awesome!
Thanks!
This looks awesome! My kids will love this!
Oh, thanks! Hope you guys enjoy it!
Awesome worksheet
Thanks! Glad you like it!