You can buy ocean-themed manipulatives at school supply stores and various other places, including toy stores. Use these manipulatives for a unit on the oceans of the world. Ocean manipulative activities could include putting together an ocean-themed puzzle or creating a puppet play with ocean creatures. Use fish and ocean creature finger puppets to tell students about what life is like under water, then let the children do the play, using their own words.
Help students make fish out of construction or scrapbook paper. Once cut, glue the fish to a piece of paper and put the picture in a frame. Replace the glass with blue cellophane to give an underwater look. Another way to use handcrafted items as ocean manipulatives is to make a fish mobile by suspending paper fish from craft sticks. Have the children look at pictures of real ocean fish before they create the mobile.
Letting children see, feel and even smell items from the sea lets them experience ocean life first-hand. If you live near the sea, a field trip will put the children in contact with a host of ocean manipulatives: They can touch the sand on the beach along with sea shells, drift wood and rocks. Or a trip to a grocery store or market can provide children with the opportunity to see and smell fish. Buy some fish to take back to the classroom, where children can study them more closely. Note: If the children touch the fish, have them wash their hands thoroughly afterward.
Other manipulatives for ocean studies include showing children the differences between fresh water and salt water. Let students taste tap water, then add salt to help them understand the difference. Set up an aquarium in the classroom so children can see the fish swimming and take responsibility for feeding and other care. At snack time, offer the children fish-shaped snacks to reinforce your ocean lesson plan.