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Welcome to "Under the Sea", a fascinating journey into the mysterious and beautiful world beneath the ocean's surface! In this unit, we will dive deep to explore the many wonders of marine life, from colorful coral reefs to the darkest parts of the ocean floor. We will learn about different types of sea creatures, like fish, dolphins, sharks, and even animals that glow in the dark! We'll also discover the importance of oceans to our planet, including how they support life, influence weather, and provide resources for people around the world. Throughout the unit, we'll use art, science, and storytelling to bring the underwater world to life. Together, we'll ask important questions: How do sea animals survive in their unique habitats? What challenges do oceans face today? And how can we protect these amazing underwater ecosystems? Get ready to dive in, there's a whole world under the sea waiting to be explored!

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Knowledge Check

1. Name three animals that live under the sea.

2. What is a coral reef?

3. Why are oceans important to Earth?

4. What does a sea turtle eat?

5. Name one way people can help protect the ocean.

Creative Activity

Draw a label of an underwater scene

Observation Checklist

Identifies sea creatures correctly. ✅

Understands the importance

of the ocean ✅

Participates actively ✅

Shows creativity in work ❌

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Art Center:

Create underwater scenes using various art supplies like watercolor paints, colored pencils, and construction paper. You could also use clay or play-dough for students to make sea creatures.

Science Experiment Center:

Conduct simple experiments that mimic ocean conditions, such as making saltwater solutions, observing the effects of temperature on water density, or creating a DIY ocean in a bottle with water, oil, and food coloring.

Reading Center:

Have a collection of underwater-themed books for students to read or listen to. Books can include stories about sea creatures or informational books about the ocean, like “The Pout-Pout Fish” or “Baby Shark.”

Math Center:

Use sea creature counters or a printable worksheet to practice counting, addition, subtraction, or matching ocean animals with corresponding numbers.

Sensory Bin Center:

Create a sensory bin filled with sand, water beads, small ocean animals (plastic fish, dolphins, crabs), and shells. Students can explore textures and create imaginary underwater scenarios.

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"Over In the Ocean: In a Coral Reef" by Marianne Berkes

"Inky the Octopus: The Official Story of One Brave Octopus' Daring Escape (Includes Marine Biology Facts for Fun Early Learning!)" by Erin Guendelsberger

"Ocean Full of Wonder: An educational, rhyming book about the magic of the ocean for children (World Full of Wonder)" by Anna Smithers

"A Dive into the Deep: The Adventurous Readers Series" by Tessa Pfeifer

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"Build Your Own Ocean World"

Objective:Students will demonstrate their understanding of marine life, ocean layers, and environmental awareness by creating a 3D ocean model and presenting it with fun facts and stories.

Ocean-in-a-Box Diorama

Materials: Shoebox, paint, colored paper, string, clay, recycled materials, etc.

Task: Students create a 3D model showing different ocean zones (Sunlight, Twilight, Midnight).

Include: Fish, coral, jellyfish, seaweed, sharks, and even submarines or treasure chests.

Creature Card

Task: Choose one sea creature from the diorama and make an information card.

Card Includes: Name, Zone it lives in, What it eats, One fun fact, Simple drawing

Ocean Poem or Riddle: Write a short rhyming poem or guess-who riddle about an ocean animal or scene. Example:"I glow in the dark where no light can be,
I float like a ghost, deep in the sea..."

Ocean Pledge Scroll

Task: As a class, create a scroll titled “We Promise to Protect the Sea”.

Each student adds one action (e.g., “I will use less plastic” or “I won’t litter”).

Class Presentation / Ocean Museum Day

Host a mini-exhibit where each student:

Displays their ocean box

Reads their poem/riddle aloud

Shares their creature card

Explains one thing everyone can do to help the ocean

Invite other classes or parents!

Learning Outcomes

Understand marine habitats and ocean life

Practice public speaking and creative expression

Learn environmental responsibility in a fun, age-appropriate way

Collaborate and celebrate learning with classmates

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Read: "Commotion in the Ocean" by Giles Andreae

Teacher will share a brief biography of the author (where he is from, why he likes to write children's books, etc.)

Students will draw a picture of your favorite scene or character from the book.

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Participate in group, interactive read-alouds.

Designate a comfortable reading "corner" for students to explore independent reading and exploration.

Students will retell the stories from the texts from their own perspective (students can act out the story, use props, etc.)

Integrate a science, math, or a different subject with an activity that correlates with the text.

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Content

Basic Level: Focus on simple sea animals (e.g., fish, octopus, dolphin) and their names.

Advanced Level: Explore ecosystems (coral reefs, deep sea vents) or adaptation (how sea creatures survive).

Choice: Let students pick between studying an animal, a plant, or an underwater environment.

Process

Visual learners: Watch a short underwater documentary or look at ocean photography.

Kinesthetic learners: Create ocean animal puppets or do a movement activity pretending to be sea animals.

Auditory learners: Listen to ocean sounds or sing sea-themed songs.

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Students will choose a vocabulary word and make a word poster. Students should include a picture and description of their vocabulary word.

Students will participate in a word-to-picture matching game.

Students will participate in a sea creature puppet show.

Students will use mixed materials to create a sea creature of choice craft.

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angelfish

sand

seahorse

sea lion

sea urchin

shell

shrimp

stingray

turtle

water

whale

beluga

blue shark

clam

clownfish

coral

crab

diver

dolphin

eel

fish

hammerhead shark

hermit crab

jellyfish

killer whale

krill

lionfish

lobster

manatee

narwhal

octopus

otter

oyster

seahorse

sea lion

sea urchin

shark

shell

shrimp

starfish

tiger shark

turtle

water

whale

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Students will identify big ideas (themes, main concepts, or lessons) from what they’ve learned about the ocean and visually connect them to supporting details using a poster "Big Ideas Beneath the Surface!"

What to Include:

Main Title (at the top): "Big Ideas Beneath the Surface"

3–4 Big Ideas (spread across the poster like bubbles or ocean zones), such as: The ocean is home to many ecosystems, Marine animals have special adaptations, Humans must protect ocean life, The deeper the ocean, the stranger the creatures!

For each Big Idea: Add 1–2 illustrations (e.g., animals, plastic pollution, coral reef). Include supporting facts or examples.

Use colorful visuals, wave patterns, sea creatures, and labels.

Once complete, students can:

Present their posters in a “Gallery Walk.”

Trade graphic organizers with a classmate and explain each other's big ideas.