Free Ocean Theme Lesson Plans for Preschoolers

Sun, salt, sand…it’s that time of the year when the ocean is on our minds! These free ocean preschool lesson plans are full of ways to bring the ocean to your preschoolers, and all in tidy printable ocean-themed lesson plans.

Summer preschool themes are the perfect way to channel warm-weather energy into learning, and these free ocean preschool lesson plans do just that. Whether it’s learning about sharks and shells or pretending to be crabs scuttling across the carpet, ocean-themed learning is both fun and developmentally rich. These lesson plans weave together literacy, math, and science in ways that feel playful and meaningful, making the most of summer energy while supporting early learning goals.

Preschoolers might not be able to visit the ocean this summer, but that doesn’t mean they can’t explore it. With ocean preschool lesson plans built into your summer preschool themes, you can transform your classroom into an exciting hub of marine life discovery.

These ocean-themed activities offer just the right mix of structure and play. From counting colorful fish to exploring the textures of sand and shells, each lesson is designed with preschoolers in mind—simple enough for young learners to engage with independently, yet rich enough to build early math, literacy, and science skills. Whether your kids are sorting sea creatures, listening to ocean stories, or acting out crab walks across the carpet, they’re learning through play, which is exactly how preschoolers learn best.

With printable plans that are easy to prep and full of variety, you’ll have everything you need to turn your classroom or homeschool space into an exciting ocean adventure. So roll up your sleeves—it’s time to dive into summer learning!

Read this: 20+ Ocean Printables for Preschoolers

Ocean Lesson Plans for Preschool

We’ve packed over 15 playful activities into this ocean unit—perfect for bringing your summer preschool themes to life. From sandy science experiments to fishy math games and bubbly art projects, there’s something for every little learner.

These activities are just right for preschoolers—hands-on, engaging, and easy to adapt.

Ocean Literacy Activities for Preschool

Seashell Name Recognition Activity – This activity is simple to set up and is perfect for helping your preschooler recognize their name. Using a permanent marker, write your preschooler’s name letter-by-letter inside a variety of seashells. Mix in some additional seashells and add a little bit of sand to a bin, and invite your preschooler to go on a letter hunt. Write your preschooler’s name on a piece of paper close by so they can match up their name and arrange the seashells correctly.

Beach Prewriting Cards – Channel your inner beach with these fun prewriting cards. Print and use in lots of ways to help build hand strength and fine motor skills. Use with a pencil in the typical way or use liquid glue and sprinkle sand on top for a tactile experience. Or cut with scissors along the lines for a real challenge. No matter how you use them, they’ll be full of fun!

Ocean Children’s Books

One of the best ways to teach preschoolers about any theme is by hand-selecting the highest-quality picture books! No mention of the rainbow fish here. This is a book list of our best-loved picture books for an ocean theme.

Ocean Themed Math and Science Activities

Fish Number Sequencing Puzzle – This one-page ocean counting printable is perfect for building number recognition and even helps your preschooler count backward. Simply cut apart the number strips and get to work! Another fun way to use this puzzle is to hide the pieces around the room and encourage your child to come back to the table and determine where each number goes.

Five Little Fishies Song and Counting – This catchy little rhyme and the incorporation of fish snack crackers makes this game a preschool favorite! Encourage the children to “snap” up the cracker after each rhyme and gobble it up like a shark!

Salt Water Science Experiment – Using 4 glasses of water and a few household ingredients, this ocean science xperiment is a deeper look into sink/float and gives your preschooler a better understanding of why it’s easier for things to float in saltwater than in regular water. The baking soda often causes trapped gas which means the items might just hover in the middle!

Ocean Manipulatives to Use In Math And Science

• Learning Resources Ocean Emotions Seashells
• Learning Resources Under The Sea Ocean Counters
• Learning Resources Jumbo Ocean Animals
• Learning Resources Ocean Animals

Playful Learning Activities for an Ocean Theme

Ocean Bug Hunt – The ocean is full of animals that look just like bugs; they’re called crustaceans. Head outside on a nice day and look for bugs in your backyard! Bring a journal to draw about them or a net to catch and release them. Or look up crustaceans online and draw some comparisons.

Strainer and Pipe Cleaners – Grab some colorful pipe cleaners and a pasta strainer and invite your preschooler to push the pipe cleaners through the holes. It’s almost like making the tentacles of a sea anemone.

Cardboard Box Fort – Even ocean animals need a place to hide from predators. Grab some cardboard boxes and create a fort! Add in pillows, blankets, light…anything to make a cozy hiding place!

Social-Emotional Activities for an Ocean Theme

Pout-Pout Fish Solves a Problem – Go to YouTube and read The Pout-Pout Fish Cleans Up the Ocean by Deborah Diesen. After reading, discuss the problem in the story. How did the other fish help Pout-Pout fish clean up the trash in the ocean? Is trash in the ocean a real-life problem? How could we help solve that problem in our oceans and beaches? Encourage your child to be a problem-solver and come up with ideas and ways to help solve community and world problems.

Beach Ball Bounce – Grab an inflatable beach ball and a permanent marker for this fun learning activity. Draw different feeling faces on various sides of the beach ball (scared, happy, sad, angry, surprised, grumpy, excited, etc.). Roll or bounce the beach ball to your preschooler and tell him or her to share the emotion that their hand touched when they grabbed the ball. Invite them to share an “I feel…” statement for each turn. “I feel scared when my room is dark, but sleeping with a nightlight makes me feel better!”

Just Plain Fun Activities for an Ocean Theme

Salt Dough Starfish – This unique dough recipe allows the starfish to puff up with a bit of bumpy texture on the outside. It really looks and feels like a real starfish! Plus, you can paint or color it to make it even more colorful.

Ocean Animal Sensory Bin – With some ocean animal toys, this bin is bound to be a favorite! What makes this sensory bin special is the soapy foam that will remind you of the foam from the ocean’s waves. Your preschooler will love feeling and experimenting with this magical soap!

Paper Bag Jellyfish – Using paper bags, paint, and scissors, turn simple brown bags into lively jellyfish craft! Add some colorful paint and cut the tentacles to resemble a real-life jellyfish.

Get Online Activities for an Ocean Theme

Online Story – Go to YouTube and listen to the story Hello Ocean by Pam Munoz Ryan. After listening, ask your preschooler to think about all five of their senses (see, hear, touch, taste, smell). How can you hear the ocean? What about your other senses? Can you taste the ocean? Draw a detailed picture of your best day at the ocean!

Animals in the Ocean Song – Learn about jellyfish, clams, crabs, and more with this catchy oceanside song and dance.

There’s a Hole in the Bottom of the Sea – Listen along to this fast-paced, rhythmic story and follow all the ocean animals to the hole in the bottom of the sea!

Shop our Ocean Printables for Preschool

Make a splash in preschool learning with our engaging and educational ocean printable activities for preschoolers.

Under the Sea Lesson Plans for Preschool

We’re not done yet! Check out these other fun ocean activities to add to your under the sea animal lesson plans.

• Roll and Cover Ocean Counting Cards
• Ocean Art for Preschool and Toddlers
• Ocean Small World Play

And if you’re on the lookout for even more preschool themes – try these fun preschool theme ideas!

Grab our Weekly Thematic Activity Plans

Engaging, hands-on themes that complement your math and literacy curriculum.

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FAQ About an Ocean Preschool Theme