June 8th is National Ocean Exploration Day.
I thought it would be fun to pull together some resources about oceans for you to do a fun Ocean Unit Study adventure and explore the oceans with your kids.
My family loves to visit the Ocean and Ocean Aquariums and Marine Museums. There is something so fascinating about the wide range of life that lives below the water’s surface. And there is something incredibly soothing about the sound and the visual picture of waves rolling into the beach in a constant rhythm.
I was so blessed to have the opportunity as a child to spend two weeks in Hawaii. That was my first introduction to the ocean and sea creatures. What a fascinating and inspiring experience it was. As a pre-teen I went on a three week trip across the USA and seen the ocean from New York and Conneticut, and then all the way across the USA to Los Angeles. We traveled along the ocean front roads for many miles in Los Angeles. That summer I don’t think I had ever been any place hotter in my life. Then as a teenager I visited San Francisco several times, and so enjoyed eating fresh caught seafood on Fishermans Wharf. I also traveled again to New York and New Jersey and seen the ocean and took a ferry ride. In college I took a one week trip to Washington and Vancouver Island by ferry, and was again amazed at the vast beauty of the ocean and the beaches and rocky cliffs all around.
When we lived in Indiana, we lived just a little over an hour away from the Newport Aquarium in Newport KY. That was my children’s first experience with seeing ocean sea life. We were mesmerized by the amount of see life there was in these vast aquariums holding millions of gallons of ocean water in the middle of the United States.
Now we live in North Carolina and we are close to many ocean learning opportunities. We live just 2 hours from the Ripleys Ocean Aquarium in Gatlinburg, TN. It has become a favorite place to visit for us.

We have been there four times in three years. It is a great place to study ocean animals. Some of our favorite ocean animals to learn about are sharks, octopus, jelly fish, sea turtles, sting rays, and one of our favorite sea birds, penguins. They have an awesome live penguin habitat and also a baby penguin rearing area that is so much fun for the children to participate in.

And there are several hands on opportunities for children to learn through using all their senses.

And my children love to watch the huge sharks and sting rays as the swim over our heads in the walk through aquarium.

We have also been to the ECCO Marine Museum in Hendersonville, NC. Last summer, we had friends, with 6 kids, visiting from Indiana. We took our 5 kids and their 6 kids and we went to the ECCO museum and had a great time learning about ocean life.

It only costs $1 per person, and we spent two hours learning from this fascinating marine scientist. In addition to running this museum, she also teaches classes, speaks at schools, does educational parties and birthday parties, and takes teens to the ocean for scuba diving and marine scientist excursions. Her son has gone on to be a marine scientist and he specializes in the study of sharks.

She is fabulous with children. Everything she does with kids is hands on.

Another favorite excursion for our family is visiting the ocean at South Carolina.

We live just 3 1/2 hours from Charleston, South Carolina. This is a world away from living in the midwest. Visiting here is almost unexplainable and you just have to experience it yourself.

The ocean views from Charleston and the surrounding areas are amazing. We especially enjoy staying at the Isle Of Palms and spending a few days enjoying the beach and traveling to surrounding areas to see plantations, museums, alligators, and taking in the amazing culture and history of the area. We went for a very special trip last October for our son’s 8th birthday, and we had the best time ever.

Another fun hands on learning activity we did learning about oceans was to create our own mini ocean.

We made an Ocean Discovery Bin for the kids to explore. I will write a story about it soon.

The kids enjoyed this bin so much. We made it in December, and we still pull it out frequently to play and explore in.

In addition to doing our own Ocean Unit Study and Lapbook, another really fun opportunity we are looking forward to this summer is a local homeschool Science Club. It is just starting up and the first topic they will be studying is “Oceans”. Our first Science Club meeting is tomorrow. So we are looking forward to lots more fun learning about the amazing oceans and the sea life that lives in them.
FREE Resources for an Ocean Unit Study:<
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Unit Studies (Science, Geography, History, Language Arts, Literature Book Lists, Reading, Vocabulary, Arts & Crafts, Math, Coloring Pages, and more), Lesson Plans, and Lapbooks (scrapbook with mini versions of the learning done in the unit study).
Christian Cottage Unit Studies: Oceanography: The Waters He Called Seas
http://www.currclick.com/product_info.php?products_id=243&it=1&filters=0_0_0_0_0
Discovery Education: Ocean Exploration Lesson plans
http://dawn.discoveryeducation.com/
Ocean Animal Lesson Plans
http://www.suite101.com/content/ocean-animals-lesson-plan-a22037
Homeschool Helper Online: Ocean Unit Study
http://www.homeschoolhelperonline.com/units/oceans.htm
Oklahoma Homeschool Cindy Downes: Ocean Unit Study
http://www.oklahomahomeschool.com/oceanunit.html
Eclectic Homeschool: Ocean Unit Study
http://eclectichomeschool.org/articles/article.asp?articleid=145
Teaching Heart: Ocean Unit Study
http://www.teachingheart.net/literatureactivocean.html
Homeschool On A Shoestring: Ocean Unit Study
http://homeschoolingonashoestring.com/blog/2008/02/09/ocean-unit-study/
Homeschool Share: Hello Ocean Unit Study and Lapbook
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/hello_ocean_lapbook.php
Homeschool Share: Fish and Fishing Unit Study and Lapbook
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/fish_and_fishing_lapbook.php
Homeschool Share: Sea Turtles Unit Study and Lapbook
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/sea_turtles.php
Homeschool Share: Octopus Unit Study and Lapbook
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/nico.php
Homeschool Share: Atlantic Ocean Unit Study and Lapbook
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/atlantic.php
Homeschool Share: Time Of Wonder Ocean Unit Study and Lapbook
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/time_of_wonder.php
Homeschool Share: Hermit Crab Unit Study and Lapbook
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/a_house_for_hermit_crab.php
Homeschool Share: Nim (life on an island in the middle of the ocean) Unit Study and Lapbook
http://www.homeschoolshare.com/nims_island.php
1+1+1=1 : Whale and Dolphin Lapbook
http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/2008/09/whales-dolphins-lapbook.html
1+1+1=1 : Ocean Animals Tot Lapbook
http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/OceanAnimalsTotBook.html
1+1+1=1 : Nemo Tot Lapbook
http://www.1plus1plus1equals1.com/NemoTotBook.html
1+1+1=1 : More printables & activities about the Ocean
http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/2011/06/ocean-theme-printables-more.html
Homeschool Activities: Ocean Unit Study
http://www.homeschool-activities.com/homeschool-unit-studies.html
Worksheets
All Kids Network: Ocean Animal Worksheets
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/worksheets/animals/ocean/
Learning Page
http://www.learningpage.com/free_pages/galleries/oceans.html
Math Activites
Kidzone: Ocean Counting Backwards Page
http://www.kidzone.ws/math/ocean/gr1-count2.htm
Kidzone: Ocean Counting Forwards Page
http://www.kidzone.ws/math/ocean/gr1-count4.htm
Kidzone: Sand Castle Connect the Dots
http://www.kidzone.ws/math/ocean/dotsby5.htm
Kidzone: Addition
http://www.kidzone.ws/math/ocean/gr1-bubblesaddition.htm
Kidzone: Subtraction
http://www.kidzone.ws/math/ocean/gr1-bubblesminus.htm
Kidzone: Odd or Even
http://www.kidzone.ws/math/ocean/gr1-oddeven3.htm
Preschool and Kindergarten Learning Printables
Confessions Of A Homeschooler: Letter O is for Octopus
http://confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com/2009/10/prek-letter-o.html
and
http://confessionsofahomeschooler.blogspot.com/2010/04/prek-letter-o.html
Crafts and Activities
Egg Carton Sea Creatures (crab, jelly fish, oyster, octopus, fish, etc.)
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/downbythesea/tp/ecseacreature.htm
Paper mache Star Fish
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/papermache/ig/Paper-Mache-Craft-Photos/Paper-Mache-Star-Fish.htm
Sand Casting Craft
http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/sandcrafts/a/blsandcast.htm
Sea Shell Memory Game
http://familycrafts.about.com/od/seashells/a/Shell-Memory-Game.htm
Jelly Fish Craft
http://familycrafts.about.com/cs/fishcrafts/a/bljellyfish.htm
Under The Sea Pencil Holder
http://familycrafts.about.com/gi/o.htm?zi=1/XJ&zTi=1&sdn=familycrafts&cdn=parenting&tm=38&gps=170_172_806_774&f=10&tt=14&bt=0&bts=1&zu=http%3A//www.kidsdomain.com/craft/pencil2.html
Artists Helping Children: Ocean Animal Crafts (lots and lots)
http://www.artistshelpingchildren.org/artscraftsideasseaoceanlifefishaquatickids.html
All Kids Network: Ocean Animal Crafts
http://www.allkidsnetwork.com/crafts/animals/ocean/
Free Kid Crafts
http://www.freekidcrafts.com/ocean.html
Busy Bee: Ocean Crafts
http://www.busybeekidscrafts.com/Ocean-Animal-Crafts-for-Kids.html
First School
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/animals/ocean_general.htm
First School: Ocean Creatures template for use in diaroma or collage crafts
http://www.first-school.ws/t/oceancreatures.html
First School: Ocean Theme Coloring Pages
http://www.first-school.ws/theme/animals/cp_ocean.htm
Crafty Classroom: Coral Reef Collage
http://www.thecraftyclassroom.com/CraftCoralReefAnemone.html
Crafty Classroom: Star Fish
http://www.thecraftyclassroom.com/CraftCoralReefSandPaperStarfish.html
Pink and Green Momma: Ocean In A Box
http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2008/09/ocean-wonders-wednesday.html
Pink and Green Momma: Ocean in a Bag
http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2009/07/make-ocean-in-bag.html
Pink and Green Momma: Ocean Bubble Wrap Scene
http://pinkandgreenmama.blogspot.com/2009/11/bubble-wrap-printmaking-ocean-scene.html
Spell Outloud: Ocean Song
http://www.spelloutloud.com/2010/09/geography-learning-oceans.html
Spell Outloud: Seahorse Craft and Game
http://www.spelloutloud.com/2010/04/sea-horse-craft.html
1+1+1=1 : Ocean Activities
http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/search/label/Ocean
and
http://1plus1plus1equals1.blogspot.com/2011/06/ocean-theme-printables-more.html
Counting Coconuts: Frozen Ocean Sensory Discovery Tub
http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/2010/07/frozen-fun.html
Counting Coconuts: Beach Sensory Tub
http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/2010/07/beach-sensory-tub-playdough.html
Counting Coconuts: Nature Table
http://countingcoconuts.blogspot.com/2010/08/summer-nature-table.html
Homeschool Creations: Ocean Biome Diorama
http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/2009/04/making-sea-fan-and-coral-reef.html
Homeschool Creations: Animal Sorting File Folder Game
Sort Land and Ocean Animals
http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/2010/02/preschool-corner-animal-sorting-file.html
Homeschool Creations: Preschool Activities for letter U including underwater theme
http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/2009/05/preschool-corner-letter-u.html
Homeschool Creations: Letter O activities including an Ocean In A Bottle
http://homeschoolcreations.blogspot.com/2009/02/preschool-corner-letter-o.html
DLTK : Ocean Animal Crafts
http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/ocean.html
DLTK : Ocean Animal Coloring Pages
http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/moceanposter.html
DLTK : Ocean Mobile
http://www.dltk-kids.com/animals/moceanmobile.html
DLTK : Ocean Habitat Craft
http://www.dltk-teach.com/alphabuddies/mhabitat.html
DLTK : Ocean Mini Book
http://www.kidzone.ws/kindergarten/learning-letters/ib-book-ocean.htm
ABC and 123: O is for Ocean and Octopus Activities
http://www.abcand123learning.com/2009/11/alphabet-letter-o.html
Field Trip Ideas
Visit an ocean aquarium.
Visit the ocean.
Visit a marine science museum.
Do a virtual ocean field trip. (photo bucket has over 2,000 ocean videos, please screen your choices to make sure they are safe for kids to see)
http://photobucket.com/videos/ocean/
You Tube (Has over 500,000 videos. Again, pick a few and screen them ahead of time to make sure they are appropriate for your kids to view.)
http://www.youtube.com/results?search_query=ocean&aq=1&oq=Ocean
Here are a couple of You Tube ocean videos we enjoyed
Under the frozen ocean
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=Ub7dzThwsX4&playnext=1&list=PL4C131C5580CB5647
Views Of The Pacific Ocean from Land
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=P8FlmTlmdzc&feature=pyv&ad=8095677751&kw=ocean
Blue Whale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=VsvWfuM6kkE&feature=grec_index
White Whale
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=grRuw1cE9LU&feature=related
Sea Turtles
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=K-07n8lsRUQ
Do a virtual field trip to an ocean aquarium.
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=psCG5dPiNyo&feature=related
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=fnEfQerol1E&feature=fvst
Online Interactive Games
Monterey Bay Aquarium (lots of different Ocean games here)
http://www.montereybayaquarium.org/lc/activities/
Ocean Games on Primary Games (lots of different Ocean games here)
http://www.primarygames.com/science/ocean/games.htm
Ocean Express
http://www.gamefools.com/onlinegames/free/oceanexpress.html
Sea and Sky
http://www.seasky.org/sea-games.html
Under the Sea
http://funschool.kaboose.com/globe-rider/under-the-sea/games/index.html
Geography Game
http://www.sheppardsoftware.com/World_Continents.htm
Happy Ocean Exploration Day!
Hope you enjoy your Ocean Exploration Adventure!!!