**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.
Understanding World Oceans Day in EYFS & KS1
Let's dive into the big, blue ocean and learn all about it for World Oceans Day šš¬š
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). Itās 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 that truly resonate with young minds, making learning about ocean life and environmental care both essential and wonderfully captivating!
Why Is Learning About the Ocean Important 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 splash into learning and celebrate our oceans for World Oceans Day with these planning ideas and activities perfect for EYFS and KS1 children. The focus is on appreciating marine life, understanding environmental challenges, and learning how we can all help! Many of these early years and year 1 activities can be supported by our dedicated āOceanā, āUnder the Seaā, āEndangered Animalsā, āBeach Schoolā, and āRecyclingā resources.
Here's some inspiration for celebrating World Oceans Day in 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. Emphasise respect for nature and responsible actions.)
Exploring Marine Life & Habitats
Learning About Sea Creatures:
Use our realistic or cartoon-style resources to introduce sea animals, such as 'Sea Animals Word Cards (Realistic Style)', 'Sea Animals Word Mat (Realistic)', and 'Sea Animal Fact Cards (Realistic Style)'.
Create a display with ''Under The Sea' Display Banner (Realistic Style)' or ''Under The Sea' Display Banner & Borders (Cartoon Style)'.
Use 'Display Lettering - Sea Creatures - Lower Case Alphabet' and the other alphabet/number resources for themed displays.
Get creative with 'Drawing Sea Animals' and 'Design/Make A 'Deep-Sea Creature'.
Encourage children to draw or write about their favourites using ''My Favourite Sea Animal' Sheets (Realistic)'.
Endangered & Special Creatures:
Discuss endangered marine animals with packs like 'Sea Lion Pack', 'Sea Turtle Pack', 'Vaquita Pack', and 'Whale Shark Pack'.
Learn about the anatomy of different animals with 'Dolphin Body Parts - Poster & Writing Sheets', 'Octopus Body Parts - Poster & Writing Sheets', 'Penguin Body Parts - Poster & Writing Sheets', and 'Turtle Body Parts - Poster & Writing Sheets'.
Play a fun game with 'Turtle Egg Find Game'.
Appreciate penguins with ''Save The Penguins!' Posters'.
Beach & Rockpool Exploration:
Go on a trip to the beach or explore a rockpool role-play area.
Use 'Beach - Rockpool Wildlife Fact Cards' and 'Beach - What Can You See At The Beach?'.
Discuss sharing and cooperation with 'Beach - Who Will Share This Shell?' and 'Beach - Can You Share The Shells Fairly?'.
Engage in imaginative play with 'Beach - Natural Loose Parts Pictures' and 'Beach - Design A Shell Multimats'.
Ocean Conservation & Pollution
Protecting the Ocean:
Use 'Keep Plastic Out Of The Oceans! - Posters' to discuss the problem of plastic pollution in a child-friendly way.
Connect this to our āRecyclingā page resources, such as sorting recycling or designing a bag for life.
Discuss the impact of our actions on marine habitats.
Literacy & Numeracy
Learning through Play:
Practise counting with 'Sea Animal Counting 0-10 - Realistic' or the full versions (realistic or cartoon), 'Sea Animal Counting Multimats', and 'Sea Animal Number Slice Puzzles'.
Develop number recognition with 'Sea Animal Numbers 0-30 (Realistic Style)' and 'Sea Animal Numbers 0-100 (Cartoon Style)'.
Use 'Sea Themed Dice Game (1-6)' for a fun, active maths game.
Introduce the alphabet with 'Sea Animal Alphabet - Realistic' or the full 'Sea Animal Alphabet (Realistic)' and 'Sea Animal Alphabet (Cartoon)'.
Develop literacy skills with 'Phase 2 Words - Cartoon Crabs' and 'Phase 2 Words - Cartoon Octopus'.
Play snap with 'Sea Animal Snap Cards (Realistic Style)' and 'Sea Animal Snap Cards (Cartoon Style)'.
Creative & Fine Motor Skills
Art & Craft:
Use 'Sea Creatures Colouring - Realistic' or the full versions for a calming activity.
Create symmetrical patterns on a 'Symmetrical Crab Sheet'.
Engage in playdough activities with 'Starfish Rockpool Playdough Mat' and 'Feed The Dolphin Playdough Counting Mats'.
Use 'BEACH - Mark Making Cards' and ''Follow The Snail's Trail' Pencil Control Sheets/Mats' for fine motor practice.
Sensory & Mindfulness:
Use 'Beach - Senses Prompts/Display' and 'Beach - 'My Beach Senses Booklet'' to engage the senses.
Promote calmness with 'Beach - Mindfulness Activity Cards' and 'Beach - Mindfulness Colouring'.
Encourage movement with 'BEACH - Activity/Movement Challenge Cards'.
Explore More: To explore our extensive catalogue of resources on these themes, please visit our āAnimalsā, āBeach Schoolā, āEndangered Animalsā, āHabitatsā, āOceanā, āRecyclingā, āThe Environmentā, āUnder the Seaā, and āWildlifeā pages.
These activities offer great inspiration for making World Oceans Day a memorable and impactful experience in your early years and Key Stage One setting, fostering ocean literacy, environmental awareness, conservation ethics, and a lifelong love for our big, blue ocean.
To explore ideas surrounding additional early years events, please visit our 'Special Dates Calendar' page.
Printable resources to support teaching & learning surrounding: āWorld Oceans Dayā
Free āOceanā printable resources and activities for EYFS & KS1:
āOceanā printable resources and activities for EYFS & KS1 from our āEndangered Animalsā and āAnimalsā collections:
āOceanā themed printable resources from our āDisplay Letteringā collection:
āOceanā printable resources and activities for EYFS & KS1 from our āUnder the Seaā collection:
āOceanā related printable resources and activities for EYFS & KS1 from our āBeach Schoolā collection:
Additional Pages you may like to explore which cover relevant &/or Connected themes
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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.
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