Teaching about Oceans without a curriculum

You do not need to buy a curriculum to teach your kids about science. By utilizing your local library, online resources, and incorporating hands on activities you can provide your child with a very rich understanding of so many subjects. This year we are studying earth science with out a curriculum. Here's how I set up our unity study of the ocean.

Ocean Zones

We started our oceans unit with learning about the 5 ocean zones. Our first project was to take an old jar and fill it with 5 different liquids with different densities. We also labeled it and read about the different zones. We then learned about each of the 5 zones individually. We did some hands on activities for the zones like a shoreline project and bioluminescence project. Next we made a lab book of the different zones and the animals that live there.

introduction to the 5 ocean zones

labeling the zones

Sunlight zone project

Bioluminescent lesson

Working on their ocean zones lapbook

Finished Lapbooks

Currents, Waves, and Tsunamis

Next we learned about currents and waves. We read about how currents worked then we did a hands on experiment to help understand how they work. We also enjoyed seeing some Youtube videos on how the ocean currents work. Next we learned about waves through reading and an experiments. Lastly, we learned about tsunamis.

learning about currents

Learning about waves

Learning about Tsunamis

Learning about the 5 different Oceans

We spent a week on each ocean. We talked about what animals live in each ocean and what kind of plant life live there too. We really enjoyed talking about the great barrier reefs, and making our own reefs. We also talked about the buoyancy of salt water verses fresh water. We made a lap book of each ocean and our favorite animal from each ocean. At the end of our unit study we made an ocean snack out of blue jello as a treat to celebrate.

Learning about the Artic ocean

Making the great barrier reef

Reef making

The buoyancy of salt water

Our kindergartener working on his cutting skills

Oceans lapbook

Ocean treat to celebrate a job well done

Learning on location

Outside of learning at home I try to also include as much experiential learning as possible to line up with what we are studying. During ocean unit we went to our local zoo and spent time at their aquarium. We were also lucky enough to take a trip to the ocean to experience it first had. We also had the opportunity to take a schooner out and collect date with scientists.