This lesson plan is part of the ocean life series that focuses on the jellyfish. Used in math, phonics, music, art and selected books for story time, this unique sea creature will create interest and fun throughout the day.
Begin the day by introducing the jellyfish and its habitat in the ocean. Review the world map of the oceans where jellyfish live. The new words to talk about are tentacles and invertebrate. Jellyfish have no backbone or no brain, but that's no problem. Discuss how the jellyfish catch food and protect themselves in a unique way, by ejecting toxins to ward off the enemies.
Read the book Gooey Jellyfish, written by Natalie Lunis.
Activity:
The children may design their own jellyfish to be hung around the classroom throughout the week, creating an under-the-sea environment. Each child will color a coffee filter, then lightly spray with water to soften the colors. Allow the filters to dry, then attach to a clear plastic cup, turned upside down. Glue around the edge of the cup, tentacles of long paper streamers. Pierce the cup and hang with a length of fishing line.
Art:
Encourage art creativity by providing ideas using various painting medium, such as saltwater painting. Simply add 6 tablespoons of salt and 3 drops of food coloring to 1/4 cup of water. When the "paint" has dried, only the salt remains. The children may design ocean pictures by painting a sheet of white paper, then gluing pictures of fish or sponging on fish shapes. Always praise and display their artwork.
Snack:
The children will be surprised at snack time when you prepare ahead of time, mini aquariums for each child. In partially set blue jello, place a few gummy fish in a clear plastic cup.
Create a little interest to the classroom, by adding props. A clear or transparent umbrella can be used to design a life-size "jellyfish" for added entertainment. Attach plastic iridescent streamers with clear tape to the spokes and edge around the umbrella.
The children may "earn" the prop when correctly answering during math or phonics games.
Age approriate worksheets may also be used to learn more about the jellyfish.
Suggested books to read:
Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
Night of the Moonjellies by Mark Shasha
What's Under the Ocean by Janet Craig
Jellyfish by Lloyd G. Douglas
Selected sources:
www.marine-ed.org/bridge/kinder.html
www.dltk-kids.com/animals/mjellyfish.html
www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/cupofish.shtml
www.learningpage.com/free_pages/galleries/oceans.html
Life Under the Sea
The lessons in this series is on the study of ocean life for kindergarten through third grade incorporating activities in art, math, phonics and music.