🌊 Ocean Activities for EYFS & KS1 | Under the Sea Ideas, Printables & Planning

Dive into the fascinating world of the ocean with our collection of Ocean and Under the Sea activities for EYFS and KS1. Explore marine habitats, sea creatures, water play, conservation and environmental awareness through engaging, play-based learning experiences and printable resources.

Perfect for Nursery, Preschool, Childminders, Reception and Key Stage 1, this topic encourages children to investigate the natural world, develop empathy for living things and build an understanding of how we can help protect our oceans.

Whether children are fascinated by sharks, turtles, dolphins, rockpools or life beneath the waves, you'll find inspiration, printable resources and planning support to enrich learning across the curriculum.

🌊 Free Ocean Resources

Explore our free sample Ocean resources and discover a range of engaging printables linked to sea creatures, marine habitats and conservation.

↑ Back to Top of Page

🐠 Ocean Printable Provision & Teaching Resources

Browse our complete collection of Ocean-themed resources designed to support learning through play, enquiry and exploration.

💡 All resources include editable (DOCX) and PDF file versions for flexibility in your setting. More file format information here.

• Display Lettering

↑ Back to Top of Page

• Endangered Sea Animal Packs & the Environment

↑ Back to Top of Page

• Under the Sea

↑ Back to Top of Page

• Wildlife

Search by ‘Wildlife Name’

Scroll down to browse resources or (if you are a Premium or Professional member) search by specific wildlife name using the text links below…

↑ Back to Top of Page

• Animals

The following resources have sea animals within them.

↑ Back to Top of Page

• Birds

↑ Back to Top of Page

• Beach / Coastal Resources

↑ Back to Top of Page

• Zoo

(Penguins and Sea Lions)

↑ Back to Top of Page

• Outdoor Area

↑ Back to Top of Page

🧠 Ocean Planning & Pedagogy Support

Support high-quality practice with our professional planning resources. These include topic and mini-project planners linked to water play, habitats, animals and seasonal learning.

💡 Explore our EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite for comprehensive planning and guidance (separate pathways for birth-18 months, 18-36 months, 3-4 years & 4-5 years).

Related Theme & Project Planning Support | EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy

(Documents within this section are available with our Professional Tier Memberships)

↑ Back to Top of Page

🌿 EYFS Ocean Ideas (Continuous Provision & Enhancements)

These ideas are designed as open-ended invitations that can be adapted responsively according to children's interests, fascinations and emerging questions.

💧 Water Play Invitations

• Add sea creatures, shells and pebbles to water trays

• Introduce nets, containers and measuring tools

• Create ocean habitats using loose parts

• Explore floating and sinking objects

Adult Role

Model language such as:

• float

• sink

• deep

• shallow

• ocean

• habitat

Support children's predictions and encourage exploration through conversation.

🐠 Small World & Under the Sea Play

• Create an ocean habitat using fabrics and loose parts

• Add realistic sea creatures

• Encourage storytelling and imaginative adventures

• Include natural materials such as shells and driftwood

Adult Role

Follow children's narratives and extend vocabulary linked to marine environments and animal behaviour.

🐚 Sensory Exploration

• Shell investigation baskets

• Sand and water exploration

• Seaweed textures

• Ocean sound experiences

Adult Role

Encourage observation and descriptive language through meaningful sensory experiences.

🎭 Ocean Role Play

• Marine rescue centre

• Aquarium

• Ocean explorer station

• Beach ranger role play

Adult Role

Support communication, collaboration and imaginative thinking while following children's interests.

✏️ Mark Making & Early Writing

• Observational drawings of sea creatures

• Labelling shells and animals

• Creating maps of imaginary oceans

• Recording discoveries

Adult Role

Provide authentic reasons for mark making and celebrate children's representations and ideas.

↑ Back to Top of Page

🦈 KS1 Ocean Activities & Learning Ideas

🔬 Science Enquiry

• Compare different marine habitats

• Investigate animal adaptations

• Explore food chains

• Research endangered sea animals

• Observe similarities and differences between species

🌍 Geography Learning

• Locate oceans on a world map

• Compare coastal and inland environments

• Investigate human impact on oceans

• Learn about countries connected to oceans

✍️ English Activities

• Information writing about sea creatures

• Ocean adventure stories

• Persuasive posters about conservation

• Fact files and reports

➗ Maths Opportunities

• Collect and present data

• Measure and compare sea animals

• Create pictograms and graphs

• Solve ocean-themed mathematical problems

♻️ Environmental Learning

• Investigate plastic pollution

• Explore recycling solutions

• Discuss conservation projects

• Learn how people can help protect oceans

↑ Back to Top of Page

🌍 Curriculum Links (EYFS & KS1)

🟢 EYFS Areas of Learning

Communication & Language

• Learning new vocabulary linked to oceans and marine life

• Asking questions and sharing ideas

Physical Development

• Water play

• Fine motor control through exploration and creation

Personal, Social & Emotional Development

• Caring for living things

• Developing environmental responsibility

Understanding the World

• Habitats and ecosystems

• Living things and their environments

• Conservation awareness

Expressive Arts & Design

• Ocean-inspired artwork

• Storytelling and imaginative play

🔵 KS1 National Curriculum Links

Science

• Animals including humans

• Living things and habitats

• Working scientifically

Geography

• Oceans and coasts

• Human and physical geography

• Environmental stewardship

English

• Non-fiction writing

• Vocabulary development

• Speaking and listening

Maths

• Measuring

• Data handling

• Problem solving

↑ Back to Top of Page

♻️ Ocean Conservation & Environmental Awareness

Helping children develop a love and respect for the natural world is an important part of both EYFS and KS1 learning.

Explore resources linked to:

Protecting Marine Life

• Sea Lion Pack

• Sea Turtle Pack

• Vaquita Pack

• Whale Shark Pack (free)

Reducing Ocean Pollution

• Keep Plastic Out of the Oceans

• Don't Use Plastic Bags

• Design a Bag for Life

These resources help children begin to understand how human actions can affect marine environments and how positive choices can make a difference.

↑ Back to Top of Page

📅 Ocean Awareness Events

↑ Back to Top of Page

🌻 Related Topics & Themes

🌊 Habitats & Wildlife

• Habitats

• Wildlife

• Wetlands

• Woodland

• Animals

🐧 Animal Topics

• Zoo

• Polar

• Minibeasts

• Pets

• On the Farm

🏖️ Coastal Learning

• At the Seaside

• Beach School

🐠 Marine Themes

• Under the Sea

• The Environment

Related topics are available throughout our resource collection.

↑ Back to Top of Page

❓ Ocean FAQs

What are good ocean activities for EYFS?

Water play, small world habitats, sensory exploration, role play and sea creature investigations all provide meaningful opportunities for child-led learning.

How can I teach children about ocean conservation?

Begin with simple concepts such as caring for animals, reducing litter and protecting habitats through stories, discussions and practical activities.

What do KS1 children learn about oceans?

Children explore habitats, marine animals, environmental issues, geography and scientific enquiry linked to oceans and coastal environments.

How can I create an Under the Sea area in EYFS?

Use fabrics, sea creature figures, shells, books, natural materials and open-ended resources to create an immersive learning environment.

Why is learning about oceans important?

Learning about oceans helps children develop scientific understanding, environmental awareness, empathy for living things and a sense of global responsibility.

🌟 Explore More

• Discover our EYFS Curriculum & Pedagogy Suite

• Find out more about membership options

↑ Back to Top of Page

Search ‘Little Owls Resources’ using the following menu buttons…