This post may contain affiliate links, meaning we get a commission at no cost to you if you decide to make a purchase. As an Amazon Associate, we earn a small commission on qualifying purchases.
Happy summer! We are back with a whole lot of themed summer fun. First up, we have an entire week of ocean activities for kids that incorporate speech and language skills. These activities are perfect for those looking to entertain their kids at home or planning ocean themed speech and language session for the summer. Check out these easy and engaging ocean themed ideas and activities for every day of the week!
Ocean Activities For Kids
- Make It Monday
- Take A Trip Tuesday
- Water Wednesday
- Thinking Thursday
- Foodie Friday
- Scavenger Hunt Saturday
- Sensory Sunday
Make It Monday
For our first ocean activity for the week, we made glitter slime with the kids! Such an easy sensory activity with a fun ocean theme!
All you need is the following:
- Mixing bowl
- 6 oz of Elmer’s Glitter Glue
- 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda
- 1 1/4 tablespoon contact solution
- Any additional add-ins such as ocean animals, seashells, etc.
Empty the entire contents of a bottle of glitter glue into a large mixing bowl. Then add 1/2 tablespoon of baking soda followed by 1 1/4 tablespoon of contact solution. Mix thoroughly until slime forms.We added small ocean animals to ours, but the possibilities are endless!
Thank us later for the hours of entertainment that will follow. 😉
Take A Trip Tuesday
No ocean themed week would be complete without a trip to the aquarium! Both of our families love an aquarium adventure especially during the summer vacation months. We are very lucky to live close to one of the best aquariums around: The Shedd Aquarium.
Spending the day around sharks, fish, coral, and more is a perfect way to learn about our environment plus acquire lots of new vocabulary. There is so much to take in and see that we also plan a return trip!
Don’t have an aquarium nearby? Don’t stress! Head to a local pet store and check out the fish, snakes, and lizards! My boys love checking out all of the different tanks and supplies. Plus it is a much cheaper option. 😉
And if all else fails? There are some awesome virtual field trips or tours of aquariums around the world. Check this Virtual Aquarium Tours To Take with the Kids blog post from Midget Momma to start your under the sea travels!
Water Wednesday
Next up, we have an ocean themed water activity to help you beat the heat this summer! You will only need a few items to transport your kids to an awesome sea scape in your own home.
All you need is the following:
- 4 glasses
- Blue food coloring
- Small plastic ocean animals
Fill each glass with approximately 2-3 inches of water. Add a few drops of blue food coloring. Then throw in a few ocean animals of your choice and place all the glasses in the freezer overnight or until completely frozen.
Once frozen, pop out the ocean ice cubes and let your kids enjoy melting, breaking, and chipping away! This is a great activity for those hot summer days.
Thinking Thursday
For our ocean themed book this week, we went with a super sweet story with beautiful illustrations. Mandy’s girls loved reading The Mermaid by Jan Brett. Read the story or just flip through to look at the details. Either way, you will find lots to discuss with your kids or students!
To go along with the book, we have an awesome freebie to target labeling, describing, and categorizing. Instantly download this Summer Collecting Seashells Categorizing Freebie by clicking here or the image below.
Print your freebie then place category name on the bucket. Find the corresponding seashells and ask students to categorize each item. Then print the no prep worksheet to additional practice or send home for further generalization of skills.
Want more? Head to our TPT store to purchase the full version of this product! The product comes with over 30 category groups plus 3 different category worksheets.
Click here to purchase yours today!
Foodie Friday
Mmmm we have a kid-friendly and super yummy snack for this week’s ocean activity theme! We made pudding cup beaches! All you need is the following:
- Vanilla pudding cups
- Graham crackers
- Mini umbrellas
- Teddy Grahams
- Peach rings or gummy rings
Crush up the graham crackers in a bag then sprinkle on top of the pudding cup to make your sand. Place a peach or gummy ring in the middle. Add a Teddy Graham followed by the mini umbrella. Enjoy!
Scavenger Hunt Saturday
We have another vocabulary scavenger hunt for this week! Targeted ocean vocabulary words include: Crab, Dolphin, Octopus, Lobster, Fish, Sea Turtle, Seahorse, Jellyfish, Whale, Starfish, Stingray, Shark, Seaweed, Anemone.
Print and laminate the vocabulary cards to hide around the classroom or place into a sensory bin. Use the sentence strip visual to create 4-5 word utterances. Use the find and color or find and cover pages for additional activity. Pair the hidden summer picture scene with any of the above ideas for a fully comprehensive vocabulary activity for your next ocean speech and language session!
Great activity for a rainy day too. Hide pictures around the house to keep your little entertained. Print either the vocabulary checklist or find and color page for even more engaging fun!
Click here or the image below to grab the Ocean Vocabulary Scavenger Hunt now!
Needing a scavenger hunt to target speech articulation sounds too? We have you covered! Check out our Ocean Speech Articulation Scavenger Hunt Activity as well. Targets every sound in every position while keeping your kids or students moving.
Click here or the image below to check it out!
Sensory Sunday
Our last ocean activity for your fun summer week is a no brainer! Mandy and her girls made these super simple ocean sensory bags. All you need is the following:
- Large plastic Ziploc bag
- Hair gel
- Blue food coloring
- Small plastic ocean animals or other ocean themed manipulatives
Fill the bag with hair gel followed by a few drops of blue food coloring. Then add in the ocean animals or manipulatives. Seal the bag well and gentle mix the materials. Students can push around the animals or use our ocean themed hidden picture scene to find more!
And there you go! A full week of ocean themed activities to keep you and your kids busy all summer long. Excited to try one of the activities described above? Share with us on social media so we can see how it goes!
Kate & Mandy
Talking Mama Bears
