Every year our preschool class learns about ocean life. Sometimes I teach the topic using the letter “O is for Ocean.” Other years, I build the day around the letter U and teach it as “U is for Under The Sea.” Either way, it is so much fun – especially with this under the sea fizzing sensory activity!

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This preschool lesson includes an Ocean Paper Plate Craft that little children just love to make, teamed up with this ocean fizzing activity.  As we are winding down at the end of school, I read them the adorable story “The Pout Pout Fish [A Pout Pout Fish Adventure]”  It makes for a perfect day.

Adorable children’s story about The Pout Pout Fish 

You know how children love surprises? Well, there definitely are surprises built into this sensory experience.  The children will each discover a hidden treasure inside their own baking soda ball [how-to make them below] that you have placed in the sensory bin. Just give each student a squirt bottle filled with white vinegar, tinted blue with food coloring. Have them squirt their baking soda ball until it dissolves, revealing a little plastic undersea animal toy, which they can keep.

Think about it. This under the sea fizzing experience introduces them to basic chemistry – vinegar, when it meets baking soda, FIZZES!  Of course, before you are finished, add water to the bin to let them play. Kids LOVE to play with the toys in the bin.

How To Create Your Under The Sea Experience

Overview: you will build an “oceanscape” with sea creatures for your students to observe, touch and play with. They will also discover what happens when vinegar mixes with baking soda (FIZZ!!!)

FUN Letter O is for Ocean fizzing sensory experience for kids! #kidsactivities #preschool #sensoryplay Can also be used for Letter U is for Under the Sea Click To Tweet

Supplies

large clear plastic clothing storage bin

drop cloth for underneath the bin

small plastic toy sea creatures

sea shells

glass aquarium gems

river rocks

baking soda “rocks” that you will make

plastic squeeze condiment bottles

white vinegar

blue food coloring

baking soda (large box)

towels

smocks

dish pan

The bin that we previously used for a colored rice sensory table was perfect for this activity. It is actually a garment storage container that has wheels (wheels are NOT necessary but it just has them) and a lid.

You’ll want to protect your floor. We purchased and inexpensive plastic table cloth  meant for a sea themed birthday party. It was a beautiful drop cloth for this activity. A plastic shower curtain liner would work just as well.

How To Make Baking Soda “Rocks”

Scoop dry baking soda into a large mixing bowl.

NOTE: One 8 oz. baking soda box will yield approximately 3 baking soda balls. 

Gradually add water till it is a consistency that can be molded into balls.

Place a plastic sea creature toy or small sea shell inside the baking soda ball and mold it with your hands like you would a snow ball.

Gently place it on a tray to dry.

For effect, you may want to use a sea shell to imprint the outside of the damp baking soda rock.

Allow them to dry for at least 24 hours till hard.

Note that you still will want to handle them gently.

Vinegar Squirt Bottles

These plastic condiment bottles will be filled with white vinegar and a couple of drops of blue food coloring.

How To Set Up Your Ocean Scene

Spread the table cloth/drop cloth on the floor.

Put the empty plastic bin on top of it.

Arrange river rocks, glass gems and sea shells around the bin.

Stage plastic sea animals all around.

Time for your children to come in and see!

*To keep the vinegar smell off their clothes, cover them in a big t-shirt or smock with sleeves.

** Be sure to use full strength white vinegar. Cleaning vinegar is diluted and will not give the fizz effect that you are looking for. 

Now, gently place baking soda rocks in the dry bin.

Give a blue tinted, vinegar filled condiment bottle to each child.

Have them squirt a rock and see what happens.

  This is the science part! Baking soda + vinegar = fizz 

Watch it fizz and see the look of delight on their faces!

After a while, the plastic sea creature will “emerge” from the rock.

Now fill the dish pan with cool water and gently pour it into the bin.

Let them play and have fun!

Letter U is for Under the Sea sensory activity for #preschool and #kindergarten! #kids Click To Tweet