Children can explore the science of magnets and learn more about fish in the sea by taking a classroom fishing trip. By tying a string onto a long stick and attaching a magnet to the end of the string, students create a magnetized fishing pole. They can then mold clay into fish shapes and press a magnet into the clay to attract the magnet on the pole. Placing a small aquarium filled with guppies and minnows in the classroom provides students of all ages with an opportunity to catch fish with a net and and release them. The students can observe the swimming patterns and physical features of the fish.
Sorting and matching games will guide children to an awareness of various habitats for aquatic animals. Providing examples of different aquatic habitats, such as oceans, lakes, ponds and rivers, gives students a reference for an environmental study. The students can write clues about various aquatic animals for a class game matching the animals with their habitats. By developing this matching game, they will learn more about the characteristics of aquatic animals and the nature of different environments.
The use of science tables in a classroom allows students to explore science through hands-on activities. To review aquatic animals, students can cut and decorate sponge and foam pieces to resemble ocean animals to place in a tub with blue water. A shallow tub of water filled with sea stars and coral will also provide students with interactive study materials for aquatic animals. For a classroom science game, students can search through a plastic tub filled with sand for shark teeth. Providing magnifying glasses for the children will allow them to closely observe the shark teeth they find.
Present the students with a lesson on the many types of whales. As a class, create a size chart for different whales to identify their lengths and weights. Take the class outside with some yarn or streamer paper to document the whale lengths. The yarn measurements will give the children an example of an actual whale's size. By lying down next to the measurement, students can count how many of their bodies equal the length of a whale. They can also compare the lengths of different whales and order them from shortest to longest.