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KINDER: (13) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and undergo processes that help them interact and survive within their environments. The student is expected to:(B) identify the different structures that animals have that allow them to interact with their environment such as seeing, hearing, moving, and grasping objects;
1ST GRADE: (13) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms resemble their parents and have structures and undergo processes that help them interact and survive within their environments. The student is expected to: (A) identify the external structures of different animals and compare how those structures help different animals live, move, and meet basic needs for survival;
2ND GRADE: (12) Organisms and environments. The student knows that living organisms have basic needs that must be met through interactions within their environment. The student is expected to: (A) describe how the physical characteristics of environments, including the amount of rainfall, support plants and animals within an ecosystem; (13) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms have structures and undergo processes that help them interact and survive within their environments. The student is expected to: (C) record and compare how being part of a group helps animals obtain food, defend themselves, and cope with changes; and
3RD GRADE: (13) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms undergo similar life processes and have structures that function to help them survive within their environments. The student is expected to: (A) explore and explain how external structures and functions of animals such as the neck of a giraffe or webbed feet on a duck enable them to survive in their environment; and
4TH GRADE: (13) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms undergo similar life processes and have structures that function to help them survive within their environments. The student is expected to: (B) differentiate between inherited and acquired physical traits of organisms.
5TH GRADE:(13) Organisms and environments. The student knows that organisms undergo similar life processes and have structures and behaviors that help them survive within their environments. The student is expected to: (A) analyze the structures and functions of different species to identify how organisms survive in the same environment; and (B) explain how instinctual behavioral traits such as turtle hatchlings returning to the sea and learned behavioral traits such as orcas hunting in packs increase chances of survival.

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- Information of the event through school website or social media pages.
- Hand out invitations to those students in their classrooms and take home with them.
- Posters in the main lobby and office of the school
- send email to parents/guardians
- Daily announcements

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It's summer, so that means it's the perfect time to enjoy activities on Beach and Ocean Science for kids. Start teaching your children about the beach and ocean life by setting up this fun summer science activity. Kids will love learning about density with an exciting hands-on ocean activity. So gather up your preschoolers, kindergarten and early elementary children for an easy ocean life experiment that they will love.

In this ocean density jar, there is an ocean floor, ocean water, ocean life, the sky, and fluffy clouds. Have fun!

Ocean Science Activities for Kids

Ocean Science for Kids - Easy Ocean Life Experiment Kids Love

Are you starting an ocean theme preschool unit or looking for fun ocean theme ideas to keep your children excited and learning throughout this summer? You've come to the perfect place. We love learning and sharing about the beach and filling the year with under the sea activities.

What you will need to make your Ocean Life Density Experiment is in this picture below. However, I have it displayed in list form towards the bottom of the page. Enjoy!

affiliate links can be found on this blog at no cost to you.

Under the Sea Preschool Activities

Before doing this science experiment, we took some time to read together about the ocean, beach and ocean life. Spending some time talking about what types of things live in the ocean and explaining the different layers that will be in this Science experiment helps the children understand what they are learning.

Under the Sea Science Experiments

Ocean Activities for Preschoolers in Science

Let your children guess where each ocean animal will land inside your density jar. Do they think everything will sink to the sand floor or will some things float? Let's see what happens.

Start by gathering your supplies on a tray for your child. It makes everything run smoother if you can have the set up ready to go before you start.

Science Activity for Kids - let's get started

Have your child fill the bottom of the jar with sand, a couple of inches deep depending on the jar.

You only need one drop of food coloring to color the water light blue. The 2nd step is for your child to pour the water into the jar slowly, so it fills it about 2/3 full. I prefer to have the amount of water that's needed already in a pouring cup for the children to use.

Next, slowly pour in the oil until about an inch from the top of the jar.

Squeeze a thick layer of shaving cream around the inside edge of the jar to resemble puffy clouds. Squeeze a very thin layer on the top of the oil in the center of the jar opening, leaving one or two little holes with no shaving cream. The small holes with no shaving cream will make it much easier to drop stuff into the jar.

I prefer to do the shaving cream squirting myself, so it doesn't go all over the place, but if you have older children doing the science activity I am sure they can make the clouds themselves.

If you are using glitter, sprinkle that over the shaving cream to represent rain. It will not go through the shaving cream, so that means the rain is still stuck in the clouds.

Beach Science Experiments
Now it is time to start the density experiment: The sand represents the ocean floor, the water is the ocean water, the oil is the sky, and the white shaving cream is the clouds.
Sand is heavier than water and water is heavier than oil and oil is heavier than shaving cream, so that is why the density jar is layered that way.

Start dropping in ocean objects to see which will go down in the sand, which will float in water, and which will float in the oil. It all depends on the weight of the objects we are using. We had some ocean objects on the sand, some floated in the water for a few minutes, and the whale, starfish, and the sea plant floated in the oil.

Ocean Science Experiments for Preschoolers and Kindergarten

Density jars are an easy and fun way to show kids how different liquids and different objects have different densities. Some liquids will float above others (like oil and water) while others will sink right through.

Preschool and Kindergarten Ocean Science

This is a fantastic STEM experiment to begin talking about the science behind our oceans and differences in density. For younger kids its a fun beginner activity to explore different solids, liquids, and gas.
Hands-on Science activities are fascinating for children and keep learning new things exciting.
Ocean Science Experiments for Preschoolers

Ocean Life Density Jar
What's Needed
1 Empty Quart Jar
Sand
Vegetable/Canola Oil
Blue Food Coloring
Shaving Cream-foamy type
Plastic Ocean Creatures, Glass Rocks or Sea Glass, Aquarium Sea Plants, Small Shells
Glitter (optional)
Water
Directions
1. First fill the bottom of the jar with sand, a few inches deep.
2. Color the water light blue. Slowly pour water into the jar, so it fills it about 2/3 full.
3. Slowly pour in the oil until about an inch from the top of the jar.
4. Squeeze a thick layer of foam shaving cream around the inside edge of the jar to resemble puffy clouds. Squeeze a very thin layer on the top of the oil in the center of the jar opening, leaving one or two little holes with no shaving cream. The little holes with no shaving cream will make it much easier to drop stuff into the jar.
5. Now it is time to start the density experiment: The sand represents the ocean floor, the water is the ocean water, the oil is the sky, and the white shaving cream is the clouds.
6. If you are using glitter, sprinkle that over the shaving cream to represent rain. It will not go through the shaving cream, so that means the rain is still stuck in the clouds.
7. Sand is heavier than water and water is heavier than oil and oil is heavier than shaving cream, so that is why the density jar is layered that way. Start dropping in ocean objects to see which will go down in the sand, which will float in water, and which will float in the oil. It all depends on the weight of the objects we are using. I had some ocean objects on the sand, some floated in the water for a few minutes, and the whale and the sea plant floated in the oil.
This is a fun summer ocean experiment for kids to learn about density!

Pin Beach Stem Activities & Ocean Science Experiment to Save for Later
For more resources, printables, and activities related to the ocean and its inhabitants, please visit our Oceans Activities page and my Under the Sea Pinterest board. Ocean Slime Science with Clear Slime Recipe Click Here OCEAN ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
Studies have shown that if you like this, you will also love the following articles. I have pulled them together for you right here!

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Ocean Science for Kids - Easy Ocean Life Experiment Kids Love - Natural Beach Living

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Ocean Science for Kids, An Easy Ocean Density Experiment for an Ocean Theme Unit Study, Under the Sea Preschool Activities and Preschool and Kindergarten Beach Science, Simple ocean activities for preschoolers in science with hands on activities and Ocean Theme Printables

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That's correct! Sharks don't sink and they are actually quite buoyant despite the size of some species. They would sink like a rock if it wasn't for a few cool features. Shark Week is coming soon! So we are taking a closer look at these amazing creatures of the ocean world. Let's start with a quick floating shark activity and look at how do sharks float. Here is a simple science lesson in buoyancy and the anatomy of the shark for kindergarten to elementary!

FLOATING SHARK BUOYANCY FOR KIDS

BUOYANCY FACTS

Sharks are buoyant, in other words they don't sink but they really should! Buoyancy is the ability to float in water or other fluids. Sharks need to put effort into remaining buoyant. In fact, if they stop swimming they will sink.

Most bony fish have a swim bladder. A swim bladder is an internal organ filled with gas that helps the fish float without having to swim all the time. But sharks don't have a swim bladder to help with buoyancy. The reason is sharks can rapidly change depth without bursting an air filled swim bladder.

How does a shark float? There are three main ways that sharks use their bodies to float. This floating shark activity below covers one of them, the oily liver! Sharks rely on a pretty big oil-filled liver to help them stay buoyant in water. Learn more about how that works below...

SHARK BUOYANCY ACTIVITY

This shark activity is a great lesson in the density of liquids too! Plus, it's easy to set up with everything you need found in your kitchen cupboards.

2 Water Bottles

Cooking Oil

Water

Large Container Filled With Water

Sharpies {optional but fun to draw shark faces}

Plastic Shark {optional but we found it at the dollar store}

STEP 1: Fill each water bottle equally with oil and water.

STEP 2: Set out a large container or bin filled with water that is big enough to hold both the bottles and possibly a shark toy if you have one. If you want to get a little crafty, draw a shark face on the bottle. I am not so crafty but managed something that my six year old recognized as a shark.

WILL YOUR SHARK BOTTLE SINK OR WILL IT FLOAT?

The bottles represent the shark. The oil represents the oil that is in the shark's liver. Now make sure to ask your kids what they think will happen to each bottle as they place it in the bin of water.

SHARKS ARE BUOYANT!

As you can see the oil filled bottle floats! Which is exactly what the large oil-filled liver of the shark does! It's not the only way a shark remains buoyant, but it is one of the cool ways we can demonstrate shark buoyancy for kids. Oil is lighter than water which is why the other bottle sunk on us. So this is how sharks maintain buoyancy without a swim bladder.

CHECK IT OUT: Salt Water Density Experiment

HOW ELSE DOES A SHARK FLOAT?

Remember I said there were three ways a shark's body helps with buoyancy. Another reason sharks float is because they are made of cartilage rather than bone. Cartilage is, you guessed it, much lighter than bone.

Now let's talk about those shark fins and tail. The side fins are somewhat like wings while the tail fin generates constant movement pushing the shark forward. The fins lift the shark while the tail moves the shark through the water. However, a shark cannot swim backward!

CHECK IT OUT: Quick YouTube Video from Jonathan Bird's Shark Academy
Note: Different species of shark use different means to stay buoyant.
A simple and fun shark science activity for kids! What else sinks and floats around the house? What other liquids could you test out? We are going to be enjoying shark week all week long!

LEARN MORE ABOUT OCEAN ANIMALS

SHARK BUOYANCY FOR KIDS

Click on the image below or on the link for more fun ocean activities for kids!

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How Do Sharks Float? - Little Bins for Little Hands

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That's correct! Sharks don't sink and they are actually quite buoyant despite the size of some species. They would sink like a rock if it wasn't for a few cool features. Shark Week is coming soon! So we are taking a closer look at these amazing creatures of the ocean world.

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RAINFOREST/JUNGLE STATION #3- students are allowed to create a sensory bin in which they see the habitat and place animal figures in the habitat.  This station will allow students to see the habitat and be able to learn how these animals survive there.

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RAINFOREST/JUNGLE STATION #3- students are allowed to create a sensory bin in which they see the habitat and place animal figures in the habitat.  This station will allow students to see the habitat and be able to learn how these animals survive there.

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Toddler at Play | Kids Crafts & Activities

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Sensory bins! Aren't they the trend and you'll love this Safari Sensory bin too!

I absolutely love love love them for their simplicity, cost and because they offer such a wide range of development in kids. Oh, and of course because kids are just so amused by them they can spend hours playing with it!
RELATED: How to Dye Rice Tutorial
Take a look below at how easy this toddler activity is!
All activities should be supervised by an adult. This post contains affiliate links- this just means I earn a small commission if you purchase via links below, no extra cost to you! Read our disclosure policy here.
Materials for safari sensory bin:

- Safari Animals Toys

- Flat storage bin

-Rice (I used brown)

Instructions:

Dump the rice into the bin and set up your safari animals. Endless fun!

What is my child learning and improving?

-Fine/small motor skills (playing with the rice, animals)

-Animals (talk to your kids about all the different safari animals they have in the bin. What noises do they make?

-Senses (playing with textures, rice, animals)

There are so many benefits of sensory play! Sensory play helps build nerve connections for proper brain development, encourages the development of motor skills and helps with focus ( Goodstart.org). Sensory bins are a great way to exercise all of those important aspects of child's development.

Grab a bin and have fun!

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Sensory bins! Aren't they the trend and you'll love this Safari Sensory bin too! I absolutely love love love them for their simplicity, cost and because they offer such a wide range of development in kids. Oh, and of course because kids are just so amused by them they can spend hours playing with it!

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Station #4- Jungle/ RainForest. ( how elephants use their trunks to survive and use in their habitat)

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Station #4- Jungle/ RainForest. ( how elephants use their trunks to survive and use in their habitat)

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Elephant Toothpaste for Kids Simple Science Experiment | Science experiments kids, Easy science experiments, Science experiments for preschoolers

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Jan 7, 2021 - Make this elephant toothpaste experiment with your kids, download the free printable! - dish soap - 1/2 c. hydrogen peroxide - 3 Tbsp warm water -food coloring... follow the steps below. Which preschoolers can even assist with.

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Polar Animal Habitat- Station #6 how penguins use their bodies to survive and why penguins stay dry

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Polar Animal Habitat- Station #6 how penguins use their bodies to survive and why penguins stay dry

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How Do Penguins Stay Dry? Penguin Science Experiment | Winter science experiments, Preschool science activities, Science experiments kids

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Nov 6, 2020 - This fun and easy Penguin Science Experiment will show kids how penguins stay dry in the cold temperatures and icy waters.

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Teachers participating in the event will be dressed based on the theme.  For the theme of animals, the teachers can dress as the animals in the habitat depending on which hallway they are in.  For example if they are in the Jungle hallway, they can dress as any animal that lives in that habitat. (Tiger,Lion,Giraffe, etc.) Simple solid color or print of the animal, any additional accessories such as animal ears. Does not need to be anything expensive, it is super simple.
Any other faculty members participating and helping in the event can dress as any animal or even as an explorer, which ever they may choose.
If not, teachers and faculty are more than welcome to wear school spirit shirts!

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Arctic Animals - Science Experiment - Forgetful Momma | Animal science experiments, Science experiments kids, At home science experiments

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Apr 10, 2019 - Want to see if a layer of blubber can really help you stay warm in icy water? Try this arctic animals science experiment to experience it.

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Desert Habitat- Station #7 Rattle snakes and how they peel and adapt to their habitat

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Desert Habitat- Station #7 Rattle snakes and how they peel and adapt to their habitat

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Share & Remember | Celebrating Child & Home

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Rattlesnakes are not my favorite creature, but the R is for Rattlesnake activities we did are some of my favorites! Here are some of our letter R activities.

When we look at the photo of the rattlesnake, we see it has rough skin. The snake is long and has a rattle at the end of its tail. Why do you think it's called a rattlesnake?

One thing that's important to know about snakes is that they shed their skin. To truly understand this, we tried this fun science activity from Mother Goose Time. It's simple - just spread glue on your skin.
I slightly watered down some Elmer's glue and brushed it on the child's arm with a paintbrush. Try a little thicker coverage for best results. Then we went outside to play (it was a nice summer day) and the glue on their arms dried quickly.

Soon they noticed the change in the dried glue on their arm. Then the peeling began! Some really enjoyed it. A couple washed it off instead of peeling. A great learning experience! One little girl related it to her mother's sunburned shoulders peeling.

Next, we did a couple of activities with the craft materials from the R is for Rattlesnake daily bag - pipe cleaners and colorful beads.

First, we made letters our of the pipe cleaners. Here are some of the letters we came up with: O, R, J & Z.

Afterward, we beaded letters or designs with the beads on the pipe cleaners. We noticed when we shook the beads in the dish, they sounded like a rattlesnake!

As you can see, the craft and activity are very well defined on the sheet provided along with the materials. Need to know what skills you're addressing? What materials do you need? What questions to ask? How to extend the activity? It's all here! That's what I love about Mother Goose Time. It sure makes my job easy.

Some decided to make bracelets.

Later in the day, one little girl ran excitedly toward me exclaiming that she found a rattlesnake!! I wasn't too worried since we're in Wisconsin, but I was definitely curious about what she found that in her mind was like a snake. In the sand, she dug until she found it again - this bug that I believe is a large millipede. She was very proud of her find and we still have him a jar.

We're having so much fun learning about the letters of the alphabet!

CLICK HERE FOR MORE A TO ZOO ANIMAL THEMED ACTIVITIES!

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Rattlesnakes are not my favorite creature, but the R is for Rattlesnake activities we did are some of my favorites! Here are some of our letter R activities. When we look at the photo of the rattlesnake, we see it has rough skin. The snake is long and has a rattle at the end of its tail.

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Desert-Doh STATION #8 ( students will build mountains or cliffs in which most animals in the desert live on or communicate on such as wolves.)

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Desert-Doh STATION #8 ( students will build mountains or cliffs in which most animals in the desert live on or communicate on such as wolves.)

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Wolf toy figures from Dollar Tree to place the animal on top of the cliff or mountain that the students create.

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- Family Potluck: every family are welcome to bring any cultural dishes that they may want to bring or any snacks for the event.  This will allow a spread of culture and positivity within the school.
- Provide Food: depends on the budget.  Provide pizza, hotdogs, drinks, cookies, and any other snack.
- Sell Food: Little Ceasar's Pizza ($5) each slice can be sold for $1 as well as any canned drinks

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- Why? We are hosting this event for all students to expand their knowledge on science and be able to be hands on with experiments with their families.  It is also to involve those parents into the education of their child and be able to work on experiments with them based on what they are learning.
-When? It will be on December 15, 2022 (Thursday)
-What Time? 6:00pm-8:00pm
-Where? H.V. Helbing Elementary School
- Who is invited? Pre-K through 2nd Grade students, Parents/Guardians, and Staff.

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At the Science Night we will do a Raffle Giveaway!!! This will bring much more excitement not only for the students but also the parents. The tickets will be presented at the main entrance of the school where they will sign in. Once signed in for the event, they will be able to participate in the raffle if they would like, just write the students name and their grade. The winner will be announced towards the end of the event at 8:00pm in the main lobby.

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THERE ARE 4 HALLWAYS IN THIS SCHOOL THAT ARE USED FOR CLASSROOMS. ( 2 main hallways) could use instead of all 4.
- (Animals and Habitats):each hallway will be a different habitat that will contain different animals. For example, the jungle, the Ocean, Antarctica, the desert and etc... Students will walk into each hallway with those habitats, there will be two classrooms in each hallway that will demonstrate a few different animals to learn about and also do hands on activities.
-(Planets)Same concept just containing planets, each hallway contains a few planets depending on how far they are from the Sun.  Students will go into each classroom (2 per hallway)to learn more about those planets individually and work on experiments.
- Seasons and Weather: same concept, each hallway will be a different season. Such as Fall, Winter, Spring and Summer.  There will be two classrooms in each hallway that will be used for hands on experiments based on the season.
- Main Lobby at the entrance: Will be used to check in and hand out any papers needed for the science night.  There will also be a raffle give away where the family is allowed to sign up for. There will also be a photo booth with backdrops, accessories and more to take pictures.  There is also additional chairs added for anyone that needs to be seated at any time. (There will also be seats in the classroom and library).
- Cafeteria: Where all the food will be.  There is also a stage and a large projector screen in the cafeteria.  There will be a educational video playing on that screen based on the theme that the science night is based on so families can watch while they eat.

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Fringe decor that will be at the entrance of the hallway to identify the icy habitat.

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red fringe that will be used at the entrance of the hallway for students and family to walk through. Each habitat will have decorations and color coordinated fringe to identify the habitats.

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Wild Kratts is an amazing and educational show that many students have grown up with and continue to watch.

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Wild Kratts - Why We Love Nature and Wild Animals

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VIDEO EXAMPLE TO BE PRESENTED IN THE CAFETERIA PROJECTOR SCREEN

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VIDEO EXAMPLE TO BE PRESENTED IN THE CAFETERIA PROJECTOR SCREEN

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Wild Kratts - Exploring Extreme Animal Habitats

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Themes:
- Animals and Habitats (Wild About Science)
- Planets and Stars ( Science is Out of this World)
- Science Throughout the Seasons( seasonal changes and weather)