Exploring an “under the sea” theme with EYFS children is a wonderful way to introduce them to marine life while promoting creativity, fine motor skills, and understanding of the natural world.
Below are some exciting under the sea activities for EYFS that will captivate young learners and support their development across multiple learning areas.
In this article:
Blossom’s Recommended Under the Sea Activities for Early Years:
1. Under the Sea Sensory Play
Create ocean-themed sensory play with a favourite childhood plaything – water! Fill your tuff tray/water tray with shells, small world sea creatures, and anything else you might find under the sea like pirate treasure.
Encourage children to explore the different textures, identify sea creatures, and use scoops and tools to delve for hidden treasures while getting suitably sodden, so have a change of clothes to hand!
This activity fosters sensory exploration, fine motor development, and language skills as children describe what they discover or can feel if they can’t see it.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Understanding the World (The Natural World)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Communication and Language (Speaking)
2. Fish Counting and Sorting Games
Use colourful fish cut-outs or small world sea creatures for a counting and sorting game. Ask children to count how many fish they have, sort them by colour or size, or group them into species.
This activity introduces early maths concepts such as counting, sorting, and number recognition, while also promoting fine motor skills.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Mathematics (Number, Numerical Patterns)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Communication and Language (Speaking)
3. Under the Sea Story Time and Role Play
Read an ocean-themed story, such as Tiddler or Commotion in the Ocean, and then encourage the children to act out scenes from the story. Provide sea creature costumes or simple props like fish puppets to help children immerse themselves in the roles.
This role-play activity builds confidence, boosts imagination, and enhances language skills as children use new vocabulary and retell parts of the story.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Literacy (Comprehension)
- Communication and Language (Speaking)
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (Building Relationships)
4. Ocean-Themed Crafts
Children can create their own underwater world through crafts. Provide materials such as paper plates, coloured tissue paper, googly eyes, and paint to help them design fish, jellyfish, or sea turtles.
They can glue blue tissue paper to mimic the ocean waves and attach sea creature cut-outs to bring their artwork to life. This activity promotes creativity, fine motor skills, and knowledge about marine life.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Expressive Arts and Design (Being Imaginative and Expressive)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Understanding the World (The Natural World)
5. Underwater Movement and Dance
Encourage children to pretend they are sea creatures by moving like fish, octopuses (octopi? octopodes?), or crabs to name just a few. Play ocean-themed music and let them move freely, using scarves or ribbons as pretend water currents.
This movement activity promotes physical development, coordination, and imagination while helping children express themselves through dance. Expect a few Dory-like whale noises!
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Physical Development (Gross Motor Skills)
- Expressive Arts and Design (Being Imaginative and Expressive)
- Personal, Social, and Emotional Development (Managing Self)
6. Sea Creature Shadow Matching
Create sea creature silhouettes on one side of a sheet and their matching shadows on the other. Children can match the shadows to the correct sea creatures, helping them develop visual discrimination and cognitive skills.
This activity introduces early science concepts by teaching children about different sea animals while supporting problem-solving and fine motor development.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Understanding the World (The Natural World)
- Physical Development (Fine Motor Skills)
- Communication and Language (Speaking)
7. Under the Sea-Themed Counting Song
Teach children a fun counting song related to the ocean, such as “Five Little Fish” or “Once I Caught a Fish Alive.” Singing helps children develop rhythm and memory while reinforcing number skills.
Adding actions or props, like small fish puppets, can further enhance the experience and make it more interactive.
EYFS Areas of Learning and Development:
- Communication and Language (Listening, Attention and Understanding)
- Mathematics (Number)
- Expressive Arts and Design (Being Imaginative and Expressive)
Incorporating under the sea activities for EYFS is an effective way to engage young children in learning while developing their language, creativity, and early maths skills. These activities allow children to explore the fascinating world beneath the waves, encouraging curiosity about marine life and the natural world.
