In the spring we study ocean life. The students learn that there are two kinds of water, fresh and salt water. The animals and plants that we are going to discuss in the sealife unit live in salt water. We share several boxes of objects with our students. Our boxes are filled with shells, star fish, several crabs, a shark's jaw, sharks teeth, a sea urchin, sand dollars, a sea biscuit, sea weed, several different types of coral, sponges and sea horses. We bring a few of this items out a day. One of the items shared each day becomes the study for the day. We will read, discuss, look, smell the item of the day. Our detailed studies include: starfish, sharks, jellyfish, crabs, seahorses and whales. Sitting in a circle we SHOW & TELL our ocean items, discussing and touching and smelling each treasure as it is passed from student to student. This is a very informative,colorful, fun, unit for the students and their teacher.

Ocean Unit  Books  Swimmy by Leo Lionni Houses from the Sea by Alice Goudey The Sand Horse by Ann Turnbull A House for a Hermit Crab by Eric Carle The Big Fish by Klaus Kordon Where will you Sleep Tonight by Milly Jane Limmer Down at the Bottom of the Deep Dark Sea by Rebecca C. Jones Make a Splash! Care About the Ocean by Thompson Yardley Starfish by Edith Thacher Hurd The Sea is Calling Me by Lee Bennett Hopkins Sea Animals by Angela Royston Activities  1. Decorate halls to resemble a seascape. Students can make sea projects throughout the unit to display in their ocean. 2. Have a discovery table in the classroom with a treasure box full of sand. Hide sea shells and other hidden treasures inside - an incentive for good behavior. Provide a magnifying glass. 3. Play an ocean nature tape when students are writing to get them in the ocean mood. After each book is read throughout the unit, have students write in their ocean journal. 4. Swimmy: Create sponge sea creatures and dip in paint. Paint on mural. 5. Have students work with partners to illustrate sequence of events after reading a book. Illustrate a given event and place in order with other group events accordingly.