This lesson will teach your children about some of the different animals found in the ocean. They will learn cool facts, along with plenty of fun activities.
Note: Parents feel free to print this page for home use. There is a glossary of terms to go along with this unit.
Dolphin Facts
- Dolphins are small-toothed whales. This means they are mammals and must come to the surface of the ocean to breathe at times.
- Most dolphins make their meals from fish and squid. They work in groups to gather fish together to eat.
- Dolphins sleep with one eye closed. Then, they switch and close the other eye at other times of the day. This slows their body down so they can rest.
- Their skin feels rubbery and sleek and smooth. They have no hair on their bodies.
- Dolphins can talk to each other and know who belongs in their family.
- They live in virtually every ocean in the world. They travel together and can have a school of up to 1,000. Most travel in groups of 100 or less.
Starfish Facts
- Starfish are also known as Sea Stars.
- It is not really a fish. It is echinoderm, which is related to a sand dollar.
- They have bony skin that protects them from most predators.
- Starfish live in every ocean in the world. There are up to 1,000 different species of starfish.
- If a starfish is injured and loses an arm, it can grow a new one.
- They can live up to 35 years.
- Starfish have no brains or blood. They filter sea water to keep them alive.
- They have no bones in their bodies.
Octopus Facts
- The octopus is so named because it has eight arms. "Oct" means eight.
- An octopus is a venomous creature, meaning it kills with the use of poison.
- They are able to change colors in order to hide from predators. Some say they even change colors to let others know what mood they are in!
- A baby octopus never knows its parents. As soon as they are born, they must use their wits. The octopus is considered a highly intelligent creature.
- They mostly eat mussels, crabs, and herring.
- They are nocturnal, meaning that they are up during the night and sleep during the day.
- An octopus will eject an "ink" from its ink sac to fool predators into thinking the ink is the octopus. Then the octopus will make a quick escape from danger.
Shark Facts
- Sharks have the strongest jaws on the entire planet. They are able to move both their upper and lower jaws. Humans can only move their bottom jaw.
- When a shark loses a tooth, it always grows back, unlike, humans who once lose an adult tooth, will have no other tooth to take its place.
- Sharks like to eat alone, and will even fend off other sharks who try to steal its prey.
- Sharks eat fish and sea mammals, such as seals and dolphins. They may even enjoy an occasional turtle or seagull.
- Some of the bigger species of sharks are really quite gentle. They will eat tiny creatures found on the ocean floor.
- They have a high sense of smell, which makes them very good predators.
Ocean Animal Crafts
Idea #1: You can make an octopus using Play-Doh. Make it any color you like because they can change their color to match their background.
Idea #2: Yarn Fish
Materials: Scissors, glue, yarn, cardboard, paper, watercolors, crayons
Directions: Use crayons to draw an underwater scene on paper, but do not draw any fish. Use the cardboard to draw a fish and outline it with glue. Trace yarn around the glue. Let dry. Use watercolors to paint the yarn fish on the underwater picture.
Ocean Animal Activties
Use the worksheets below to have fun with ocean animals. To print the worksheets, click on the one you want first, right click on the image, and select Print from the list of options.
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