Ocean Art

LESSON 6

Children create ocean-inspired artwork, reflecting on their aquarium visit and drawing inspiration from the book "Over and Under the Waves." 

Bead Fish 

  • Thick jewelry wire or wire hanger 

  • Thin jewelry wire 

  • Glass beads or beads of your choosing 

  • Wire cutters 

Foil Fish 

  • Cardstock paper 

  • Tinfoil 

  • Colorful sharpie markers 

Materials

Preparations

  • Gather materials.

  • Support the development of fine motor skills by guiding children through activities. 

  • Lead discussions that help children reflect on their experiences and apply their new knowledge in creative ways. 

Objectives for Teachers

Objectives for Children

  • Children express creativity by designing and decorating bead and tinfoil fish. 

  • Children develop fine motor skills through threading beads, and using markers to decorate their fish. 

  • Children strengthen their connection to marine life by creating related art projects. 

Collect and Connect

Follow the outline to create your own poem/song to the tune of “Here We Go ‘Round the Mulberry Bush.”

In the Sea

The waves in the sea go up and down,

Up and down,

Up and down,

The waves in the sea go up and down,

All day long.

The fish in the sea go swishy swish,

Swishy swish,

Swishy swish,

The fish in the sea go swishy swish,

All day long.

Come up with your own verses together!

Activity Flow

  1. We will conclude our unit by creating ocean-inspired artwork. Reflect on your visit to the aquarium and browse through the book “Over and Under the Waves” for inspiration. We chose to create fish based on our aquarium visit, but feel free to create something different. Extra ideas are linked here. 

Bead Fish 

  1. Use the pliers to cut a piece of craft wire to your desired length. This will be the body of the fish. 

  2. Bend the wire into a fish shape, forming an oval for the body and a smaller section for the tail. 

  3. Twist the ends of the wire together to secure the fish shape. Use the pliers to ensure it is tightly twisted. 

  4.  Cut additional strands of a thinner craft wire and add beads in any pattern you like.  

  5. Twist each strand onto the frame of the fish.

  6. If you want to hang your bead fish, cut a piece of string and attach it to the top of the fish. Then attach the string to a stick or hoop to create a mobile.  

  7. Find a place to hang or display your beautiful bead fish creation! 

Tinfoil Fish 

  1. Start by drawing a fish shape on a piece of cardstock paper. Use the scissors to carefully cut out the fish shape. 

  2. Cut a piece of tinfoil large enough to cover the entire fish shape. Place the tinfoil on top of the fish shape and wrap it around, smoothing it down so it sticks to the cardstock. 

  3. Fold the edges of the tinfoil over the back of the fish and secure them with glue. 

  4. Use colorful sharpies to decorate the tinfoil-covered fish. Add patterns, scales, eyes, and any other details you like. 

  5. Once you’re done decorating, let the sharpie ink dry. Display your shiny, colorful tinfoil fish!