Ocean Art Activities

 

Aquatic Murals

 

• On a long piece of butcher paper have pupils draw their favourite fish or cut out fish shapes and to glue of the paper. 

• Add a sandy bottom some seaweed and you have an ocean scene to display. 

• Have pupils sponge paint onto the fish shapes. 

• To use with the book The Rainbow Fish, have pupils create their own Rainbow Fish with cutouts of fish patterns decorating with paint and aluminium foil for scales.

• Attach to the mural and add other features of the undersea world.

 

 

Aquariums

 

• Cut the centres out of two paper plates. 
• Fasten them together at the edges. 
• Make seaweed out of tissue paper and attach it at the bottom of the cut out centre. 
• Glue sea creatures to the seaweed.
• Cover the cut out centres with clear plastic wrap or blue cellophane. 
• Hang it from the ceiling or display on bulletin board.

 

 

Sea Mobiles

 

• Children work in groups to draw and colour pictures of sea animals that live in different zones of the sea.  
• Cut the pictures out and glue them to heavy construction paper or card.
•  Punch holes and tie them to a clothes hanger to make the mobile. 
• Display them around the room and have children identify the area of the ocean represented.

 

 

Saltwater Paintings

 

• Mix one-fourth cup of warm water with six teaspoons of salt and 3 drops of food colouring in a small container. (Chinese take-away boxes are great!)
• Mix well.
• Have children paint ocean pictures with the mixture on white paper. 
• Let dry. 
• The water evaporates but the coloured salt remains, creating beautiful pictures.
• Could tie in a discussion about evaporation.  What evaporates and what doesn’t and why.

 

 

 

 

From ‘Exploring the Lough: Creative Activities for the Primary School Classroom

Written & Complied by Molly Freeman, Edited by Adrian Rice