National Marine Week | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is not affiliated with The Wildlife Trusts, the organisers of National Marine Week. For official information about the campaign and how to get involved, please visit The Wildlife Trusts' official website: www.wildlifetrusts.org/national-marine-week

Understanding National Marine Week in EYFS & KS1

National Marine Week, running from July 26th to August 10th, 2025 (it spans two weeks, encompassing the highest tides), is a fantastic annual celebration of the UK’s incredible sea life and marine environments, organised by The Wildlife Trusts. It's a wonderful opportunity to dive deep into the wonders of our oceans and coasts with young children.

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this period provides an immersive and exciting theme for exploring marine animals, understanding their habitats, and learning about the importance of ocean conservation. It’s about inspiring awe and wonder for our underwater world and fostering a sense of responsibility for its protection. This special fortnight offers countless planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about marine biology both captivating and accessible.

Why Is Teaching About Marine Life & Ocean Conservation Important for Young Children?

Integrating lessons about marine life and ocean conservation into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) is incredibly important for fostering scientific curiosity, ecological understanding, and a deep appreciation for the natural world. During their early years, children are often fascinated by animals and new environments.

• Biodiversity and Ecosystems: Exploring the variety of sea creatures helps children grasp the concept of biodiversity and how different animals and plants live together in an ecosystem.

• Environmental Stewardship: It introduces the vital idea of looking after our oceans, understanding issues like plastic pollution, and how our actions on land impact marine environments. This fosters an early sense of environmental responsibility.

• Scientific Inquiry: Learning about the unique adaptations of sea animals (e.g., how fish breathe, how whales communicate) can spark scientific curiosity and observation skills.

• Global Connections: Our oceans connect continents, and exploring marine life can introduce children to global ecosystems and the interdependence of life on Earth.

• Empathy for Wildlife: Learning about marine animals, especially those facing threats ('Save the Penguins!' Posters (Free Sample)'), helps children develop empathy and a desire to protect them.

• Language and Literacy: Discussions about different sea creatures, their names, and characteristics expand vocabulary and promote descriptive language. Our 'Sea Animal Word Cards' and 'Sea Animals Word Mat' are excellent for this.

Engaging Marine Week Activities for 0-7 Year Olds

Making National Marine Week a splashy success is easy with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on discovery, creativity, and celebrating the amazing creatures that live in our seas! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by the extensive range of printable resources we have available, in both realistic and cartoon styles.

Here's some inspiration for bringing the wonder of the ocean into your setting: (Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken.)

• Underwater Role-Play Area: Transform a space into an "under the sea" world using blue and green fabric, netting, and toy sea animals. Children can pretend to be divers, fish, or even whales! Our 'Under the Sea' Display Banner (Realistic Style)' or 'Under the Sea' Display Banner & Borders (Cartoon Style)' can set the scene.

• Sea Animal Fact File: Introduce children to different sea creatures using simple facts. Our 'Sea Animal Fact Cards (Realistic Style)' and 'Sea Animal Fact Cards (Cartoon Style)' are perfect for sharing amazing information. For a deep dive into one incredible creature, explore the 'Whale Shark Activity Pack (FREE SAMPLE)', which includes fact posters and a main A4 poster.

• Ocean Sensory Bins: Create sensory bins with blue water beads, sand, pebbles, and toy sea creatures. Add scoops, nets, and shells for exploration. Our 'Starfish Rockpool Playdough Mat' offers a lovely backdrop for playdough creations themed around rockpools.

• Counting Sea Animals: Integrate numeracy by counting different sea creatures. Our 'Sea Animal Counting 0-10 (Realistic)' are great for basic counting. For a wider range, use 'Sea Animal Numbers 0-30 (Realistic Style)' or 'Sea Animal Numbers 0-100 (Cartoon Style)'. Our 'Sea Animal Counting Multimats' offer versatile counting activities, and 'Sea Animal Number Slice Puzzles' provide fun problem-solving.

• Sea Creature Art & Craft: Provide materials for children to draw, paint, or collage their favourite sea animals. Also, our 'Sea Creatures Colouring (Realistic)' (and 'Sea Creatures Colouring (Cartoon)') are great for creative expression. Encourage them with 'Drawing Sea Animals' or to 'Design/Make a 'Deep-Sea Creature'. For symmetry, try the 'Symmetrical Crab Sheet'.

• Sea Animal Alphabet & Words: Explore the alphabet with marine creatures using our 'Sea Animal Alphabet (Realistic)', or 'Sea Animal Alphabet (Cartoon)'. Reinforce vocabulary with 'Sea Animal Word Cards (Realistic Style)' and 'Sea Animals Word Mat (Realistic)' (and their 'Sea Animal Word Cards (Cartoon Style)' versions). For phonics, use 'Phase 2 Words - Cartoon Crabs' and 'Phase 2 Words - Cartoon Octopus'.

• Sea Animal Games: Play matching or snap games with our 'Sea Animal Snap Cards (Realistic Style)' or 'Sea Animal Snap Cards (Cartoon Style)'. Try the 'Sea Theme Dice Game (1-6)' for a simple numeracy game.

• Ocean Conservation Discussion: Talk about how we can help protect the oceans and the animals that live there. Discuss pollution and simple actions like reducing plastic. Our 'Save the Penguins!' Posters (FREE SAMPLE)' can serve as a starting point for discussions on endangered marine life.

• Sea Animal Reward Chart: Encourage positive behaviours with a fun, marine-themed 'Sea Animals Reward Chart (Cartoon Style)'.

These activities offer great inspiration for making National Marine Week a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering a deep appreciation for our incredible oceans and the creatures within them.

To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘National Marine Week’

Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes

More Early Years Event Pages for July

Explore special dates (including awareness dates, festivals, celebrations & events) relevant to your EYFS & KS1 children

Browse our ‘Special Dates Calendar’ page using the link below. You’ll find calendars for every month of the year to aid your planning!

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Disclaimer:
This page is for educational purposes only and is intended to support early years and primary practitioners with ideas and resources related to 'National Marine Week'. We are not affiliated with or endorsed by The Wildlife Trusts or the official National Marine Week campaign, and we do not claim any rights to their trademarks or official materials. For official information, please visit www.wildlifetrusts.org/national-marine-week.