World Oceans Day | EYFS & KS1 Activity Ideas

**Note: This page is for educational inspiration and is not officially affiliated with World Oceans Day. World Oceans Day is observed annually on June 8th. It was officially recognized by the United Nations (UN) in 2008 to celebrate the ocean and raise awareness of the crucial role it plays in our lives. It encourages global action towards creating a healthier ocean and a more sustainable future. For official information and details, please visit the United Nations website: www.un.org/en/observances/oceans-day.

Monday 8th June 2026

Understanding World Oceans Day in EYFS & KS1

Let's dive into the big, blue ocean and learn all about it for World Oceans Day 🌊🐬🐠

For early years settings, nurseries, preschools, childminders, and Year 1 and Year 2 classrooms, this day provides a wonderfully immersive and crucial theme for exploring marine life, habitats, conservation, pollution, biodiversity, and understanding the world (the natural world). It’s about fostering a sense of wonder and curiosity about the ocean, encouraging empathy for sea creatures, and teaching simple, practical ways to protect our underwater world. This day offers fantastic planning ideas and inspiration for engaging activities & invitations that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about ocean life and environmental care wonderfully captivating!

Why Is Learning About the Ocean Valuable for Young Children?

Integrating World Oceans Day and themes of ocean life and conservation into your practice with young children (aged 0-7) is great for fostering a sense of global citizenship and developing respect for nature.

• Fosters Curiosity & Wonder: Sparks interest in the natural world and the diverse life found beneath the waves.

• Teaches Biodiversity: Helps children understand that the world is home to a huge variety of different living things.

• Introduces Conservation Concepts: Explains, in an age-appropriate way, the importance of protecting habitats and animals, including those that are endangered.

• Promotes Responsible Actions: Teaches simple ways to help, like recycling and reducing plastic use.

• Develops Vocabulary: Introduces new words related to marine animals, ocean habitats, and environmental issues.

• Connects Learning to the Real World: Shows children how what they learn can impact a real-world environment.

Engaging Ocean & Conservation Activities for World Oceans Day (EYFS & KS1)

Let's celebrate World Oceans Day by exploring the wonders of our oceans, discovering fascinating marine life and developing an appreciation for the important role oceans play in supporting life on Earth. These planning ideas, provision enhancements and learning opportunities encourage children to observe, question, imagine and begin to understand how we can help care for marine environments and the creatures that depend upon them.

Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated ‘Ocean’, ‘Under the Sea’, ‘Endangered Animals’, ‘Beach School’ and ‘Recycling’ resources.

Here's some inspiration for celebrating World Oceans Day in your setting. The following ideas may be adapted for various EYFS and KS1 settings. In EYFS, these ideas are best viewed as invitations to explore and enhancements to provision rather than activities every child is expected to complete. Practitioners may choose to follow children's interests and questions about sea creatures, beaches, water and marine habitats, using these resources flexibly. In KS1, some ideas may also be used within more structured teaching sequences where appropriate. Printable resources to support the following ideas may be found further down this page.

(Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity or enhancement and safety concerning any materials given and activity undertaken. Encourage curiosity, respect for wildlife and positive environmental action.)

🌊 Exploring Marine Life & Ocean Habitats

World Oceans Day provides a wonderful opportunity for children to discover the incredible diversity of life beneath the waves.

Children might:

• Explore different sea creatures and their habitats.

• Compare animals that live in oceans around the world.

• Learn interesting facts about marine life.

• Discuss how animals are adapted to survive in water.

• Share their favourite sea creatures through talk, drawing and storytelling.

Resources on our ‘Under the Sea’ page such as Sea Animals Word Cards, Sea Animals Word Mats, Sea Animal Fact Cards, Under the Sea Display Resources, Sea Creature Alphabet Resources, Drawing Sea Animals, Design A Deep-Sea Creature, and My Favourite Sea Animal Sheets can help support these explorations.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create an ocean discovery area with books, photographs and small world resources.

• Add shells, pebbles and natural materials to investigation areas.

• Provide blue fabrics, loose parts and sea creature figures for imaginative play.

• Create a simple ocean-themed sensory tray.

• Encourage children to invent and draw their own sea creatures.

• Use story maps to create underwater adventures.

🐢 Endangered Marine Animals & Ocean Conservation

World Oceans Day offers opportunities to introduce children to the idea that some animals need extra protection and care.

Children might:

• Learn about endangered marine animals.

• Explore why habitats are important.

• Discuss how pollution can affect wildlife.

• Consider simple actions that help protect oceans.

• Develop empathy for living things.

Resources on our ‘Ocean’ page including Sea Lion Pack, Sea Turtle Pack, Vaquita Pack, Whale Shark Pack, Save The Penguins! Posters, Turtle Egg Find Game, and various animal body-part investigation resources can support these discussions.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create a "Marine Animal Rescue Centre" role-play area.

• Match animals to their habitats.

• Explore animal adaptations through photographs and discussion.

• Investigate how litter travels through waterways.

• Create class pledges about caring for wildlife.

• Develop simple conservation-themed storytelling opportunities.

🏖 Beach, Rockpool & Coastal Exploration

Many children are fascinated by beaches, shells, rock pools and coastal wildlife.

Children might:

• Explore what can be found at the seaside.

• Investigate rockpool creatures.

• Sort natural beach treasures.

• Discuss sharing and cooperation through beach-themed scenarios.

• Use loose parts to create beach environments.

Resources on our ‘Beach School’ page such as Beach Rockpool Wildlife Fact Cards, What Can You See At The Beach?, Who Will Share This Shell?, Can You Share The Shells Fairly?, Natural Loose Parts Pictures, and Design A Shell Multimats can help support these experiences.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create a rockpool investigation tray.

• Explore shells, pebbles and driftwood.

• Use magnifiers to observe natural objects closely.

• Build miniature coastal habitats.

• Create transient art using beach-themed loose parts.

• Introduce simple maps of coastlines and beaches.

♻️ Protecting Our Oceans

World Oceans Day naturally links to discussions about caring for our environment and reducing pollution.

Children might:

• Learn where rubbish goes when it is dropped.

• Explore how plastic can affect wildlife.

• Discuss recycling and reusing materials.

• Consider positive ways to help the environment.

• Take part in simple environmental projects.

Resources such as Keep Plastic Out Of The Oceans! Posters and related Recycling resources can help support these conversations.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Sort recyclable materials.

• Create artwork using recycled resources.

• Role-play beach clean-up activities.

• Investigate different packaging materials.

• Discuss reusable alternatives to single-use items.

• Create environmental awareness posters.

🔢 Ocean Literacy, Mathematics & Communication

Marine themes provide rich opportunities to develop mathematical understanding, vocabulary and communication skills through meaningful contexts.

Children might:

• Count sea creatures.

• Compare quantities and sizes.

• Learn new vocabulary.

• Engage in storytelling and imaginative play.

• Record observations through drawing, mark making and writing.

Resources that may support learning include:

• Sea Animal Counting Resources

• Sea Animal Number Slice Puzzles

• Sea Animal Numbers

• Sea Themed Dice Games

• Sea Animal Alphabet Resources

• Phase 2 Word Activities

• Sea Animal Snap Cards

(The above resources may be found on our ‘Under the Sea’ page.)

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create ocean-themed counting invitations using shells and pebbles.

• Sort sea creatures by size, colour or habitat.

• Build underwater story scenes.

• Create simple ocean fact books.

• Use small world resources to inspire language and storytelling.

• Encourage children to make maps of imaginary oceans.

🎨 Creative, Sensory & Fine Motor Exploration

The colours, textures and movement of the ocean provide endless inspiration for creative learning.

Children might:

• Create ocean-themed artwork.

• Explore symmetry and pattern.

• Develop fine motor skills through themed challenges.

• Engage with sensory experiences inspired by water and beaches.

• Use movement and music to represent ocean environments.

Resources found on our ‘Beach School’ and ‘Under the Sea’ pages such as Sea Creatures Colouring, Symmetrical Crab Sheets, Starfish Rockpool Playdough Mats, Feed The Dolphin Playdough Counting Mats, Beach Mark Making Cards, Pencil Control Activities, Beach Senses Resources, Mindfulness Activities, and Beach Movement Challenges can help support these experiences.

Additional Provision Enhancements

• Create ocean collages using recycled materials.

• Explore shades of blue through painting.

• Make waves using ribbons, fabrics or music.

• Build underwater worlds in small world provision.

• Create sea creature puppets.

• Use sensory trays featuring sand, shells and water-inspired materials.

🔍 Explore More

To support your World Oceans Day learning and encourage deeper exploration of marine environments and conservation, you may wish to explore our resources linked to:

Ocean • Under the Sea • Beach School • Endangered Animals

You may also enjoy exploring related themes such as:

Animals • Habitats • Recycling • The Environment • Wildlife

These ideas and provision enhancements offer meaningful ways to celebrate World Oceans Day in EYFS and KS1 settings. By encouraging curiosity, empathy and environmental responsibility, practitioners can help children develop a lifelong appreciation for our oceans and the remarkable creatures that call them home. 🌊🐢🐋🐠

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

Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: ‘World Oceans Day’

Free ‘Ocean’ printable resources and activities for EYFS & KS1:

‘Ocean’ printable resources and activities for EYFS & KS1 from our ‘Endangered Animals’ and ‘Animals’ collections:

Theme & Project Planning Support:

‘Ocean’ themed printable resources from our ‘Display Lettering’ collection:

‘Ocean’ printable resources and activities for EYFS & KS1 from our ‘Under the Sea’ collection:

‘Ocean’ related printable resources and activities for EYFS & KS1 from our ‘Beach School’ collection:

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

More Early Years Event Pages for June

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 'World Oceans Day'. We are not officially affiliated with or endorsed by the United Nations (UN), which officially recognised this international observance. We do not claim any rights to specific trademarks or official materials associated with this event. For official information and details, please visit the United Nations website: www.un.org/en/observances/oceans-day.