Ocean Adventure Sensory Play
Dive into the wonders of the ocean with a delightful sensory adventure for toddlers using blue Jell-o, cornmeal, oatmeal, and ocean life figurines. Let the little explorers embark on an ocean-themed adventure right at home!
Material needed:
Blue Jell-o
Cornmeal
Oatmeal
The Ocean Set-Up
Remember to make the Jell-o the night before so it will be set. Prepare a shallow sensory bin and fill it with blue Jell-o to create a realistic ocean feel. Then, add a mixture of cornmeal and oatmeal to the side to mimic the beach.
Sensory Exploration
Invite toddlers to dive in and explore the ocean with their hands. Meanwhile, let them feel the cool, wobbly texture of the Jell-o and the grainy sensation of the cornmeal and oatmeal. Hand them ocean life figurines such as fish, dolphins, turtles, and seahorses. Next, have them name the figurine, and then, watch them play!
Imaginative Play
Watch as toddlers bring the ocean to life through imaginative play. For instance, they might pretend the figurines are swimming, diving, and playing in their underwater world. There isn't a wrong way to play when it comes to imaginative play; indeed, it's all about letting creativity soar!
Learning Ocean Facts
As toddlers engage the ocean adventure, take the opportunity to share fun facts about the ocean. For instance, some simple facts that a toddler could learn are:
The Ocean is Huge: The ocean is a vast body of water that covers more than 70% of the Earth's surface.
Blue Water: The ocean looks blue because water absorbs colors from the sunlight, and blue is the color that gets reflected back.
Home to Many Creatures: The ocean is home to a wide variety of sea creatures, including fish, dolphins, whales, turtles, and colorful corals.
Octopi Have Many Arms: Octopi are fascinating creatures with eight arms, and they use them to move, explore, and catch food.
Biggest Animal in the World: The blue whale is the largest animal on Earth, even bigger than the biggest dinosaurs!
Coral Reefs are Like Underwater Cities: Coral reefs are underwater habitats that provide shelter and food for many ocean animals.
Tides Come and Go: Tides are caused by the moon's gravity, and they make the water level rise and fall along the shore.
Shells Come from Sea Creatures: Shells found on the beach used to be homes for small sea creatures.
Different Colors in the Ocean: Some fish in the ocean can change colors to hide from predators or communicate with each other.
Salt in the Ocean: The ocean water is salty because of the minerals and salt that dissolve in it.
Sounds in the Ocean: The ocean is full of sounds, like the songs of whales and the chatter of dolphins.
Ocean Helps Us Breathe: The ocean produces much of the oxygen we breathe, thanks to tiny plants called phytoplankton.
Different Oceans Around the World: There are five oceans on Earth: the Atlantic, Pacific, Indian, Southern, and Arctic Oceans.
Many Islands in the Ocean: Islands are pieces of land in the middle of the ocean. Some are small, and some are big.
Ocean Fun: Playing at the beach, building sandcastles, and splashing in the waves are all exciting ocean adventures!
Making Ocean Waves
Gently shake the sensory bin to create "ocean waves," adding an extra layer of excitement to the sensory play.
But, how is this activity educational? Let's discuss that here:
Sensory Exploration: Toddlers engage their senses by touching and feeling the different textures of the blue Jell-o, oatmeal, and cornmeal, which supports sensory development.
Language Development: As toddlers explore the ocean-themed sensory bin, grown-ups can introduce ocean-related vocabulary, enhancing language skills.
Fine Motor Skills: Scooping, pouring, and manipulating the Jell-o and cornmeal improve toddlers' fine motor skills and hand-eye coordination.
Creativity and Imagination: Playing with the ocean life figurines encourages imaginative play, thus stimulating creativity and storytelling abilities.
Cognitive Growth: Learning simple ocean facts and identifying marine creatures fosters cognitive development and curiosity about the natural world.
Scientific Exploration: Toddlers can observe how the figurines interact with the Jell-o, oatmeal, and cornmeal, fostering early scientific thinking and understanding cause and effect.
Sensory Integration: Sensory play helps toddlers integrate sensory information from their environment, thereby supporting their overall sensory processing abilities.
Focus and Attention: Engaging with the sensory bin requires concentration and focus, helping toddlers build attention skills.
Emotional Regulation: Sensory play can be calming for toddlers and provide a safe outlet for emotions, fostering emotional regulation.
This ocean-themed sensory activity offers toddlers a holistic learning experience. Through hands-on exploration, they develop essential skills such as sensory processing, fine motor abilities, language, and social interaction. Additionally, the sensory activity sparks their curiosity about the ocean, marine life, and the world around them, making it both enjoyable and educational.
Check out this ocean themed unit in our store!
