Help students learn about the sea.
Many children enjoy learning about animals and science, especially if they get the chance to do experiments and play games. Games get the kids up and moving around, which may help them to remember key concepts. Students are also more likely to ask questions and want to learn more about the subject at hand if they are having fun. Many students especially enjoy learning about the ocean, since its inhabitants are so mysterious. Use sea animal games to excite your students even more; some games even allow the kids to get wet.
Tide Pool Treasure Hunt
This game can be modified for students of all ages. Students may require close supervision to keep wet sand off the floors; you can also take the kids outside for this game. Fill several large plastic containers with sand and water and hide little plastic sea creatures and real or fake shells in each one. These represent tide pools; make each tide pool from a different part of the world for an extra challenge.
Split your students into groups and give each group a tide pool. Instruct the students to find as many creatures and shells as they can in 3 to 5 minutes. Older students should be able to write down the names of their creatures and where they come from. Make picture references for younger students so they can place the creatures they find on the pictures.
Predator and Prey Role Play
For this game, split your classroom into four different ocean zones. The Arctic, Antarctic, tropical reefs and deep ocean are some good categories to start with. Split your students into four sections corresponding with the ocean zones. Have each student make two paper plate masks representing animals from his zone; make sure each student has a predator mask and a prey mask.
Get half the students in each group to put on their predator masks and half to put on their prey masks. Instruct them to act like their animals, with the rule that no one actually gets hurt or bitten. Jellyfish can say "zap" when they touch their prey and octopi can wrap their arms around fish and make munching noises. After a few minutes, tell them to switch roles.
Deep Dark Ocean
This game makes a great follow-up to studying the deep ocean. It helps the students visualize what the dark oceans are like. Ask all of your students to dress in black clothing the day you plan to play the game. Get some small flashlights (available at convenience stores), glow-in-the-dark plastic shapes, glow-in-the-dark paint and some glow sticks. Help your students make costumes using the shapes, black paper and the paint and the glow sticks. Hang black curtains or construction paper over the windows and shut off all the lights. Instruct your students to act like deep ocean fish. Then, with the lights still off, talk about why deep ocean fish look the way they do.
