You can build any kind of habitat triorama to display what you have learned. Also, look at my page Trioramas: How To Create Engaging Visual Narratives For Kids for more ideas.
Today, I’m focusing on a water habitat triorama, specifically an ocean one.
The ocean is a vast and mysterious place.
It is home to a wide variety of plants and animals.
There are many different habitats within the ocean, each with its own unique features.
It covers over 70% of the Earth’s surface and is home to a diverse range of marine life.
Ocean habitats can be classified into two main types: pelagic and benthic.
OCEAN BOOKS FOR KIDS
Next, look at these fun ocean books for kids I’ve rounded up.
When possible we prefer to read living books.
16 Ocean Books for Kids Who Love to Read and Be Read To
Choose a few of these ocean themed books to go along with your study of the Oceans. Whether you're looking for a spine for a unit study or literature, you'll love this roundup.
Join Danny Meadow Mouse, Jimmy Skunk, and Reddy Fox as they explore the seashore and take a closer look at the habits and habitats of the creatures they find. Discover the Seahorse, Shrimp, Crab, Anemone, Gull, and so many more.
The Burgess Seashore Book for Children is a wonderful way to introduce young ones to the fascinating world beneath us and is a perfect compliment to earlier books in this series, the Bird, Animal, and Flower books.
This edition is complete and unabridged with all of the beautiful illustrations by W.H. Southwick and George Sutton
Seaside Naturalist is an illustrated guide to marine plants and animals includes the characteristics of protozoa, arthropods, sponges, mollusks, reptiles, birds, fish, and mammals.
The book opens by explaining how different types of animals are able to breathe and survive underwater, and the different families to which they belong. Subsequent pages are dedicated to specific creatures, including sea turtles, whales, sharks, stingrays, and seahorses, and show varied life in specific habitats, such as a coral reef or deep sea bed. The Big Book of the Blue also explores the underwater world thematically, looking at animals in danger, learning how to spot creatures at the beach, and discovering how to do our part to save sea life. Beautiful and filled with fascinating facts, young, curious readers won’t be able to tear their eyes away from the page.
Island of the Blue Dolphins begins with a young girl named Karana who is living on the Island of the Blue Dolphins (fancy name, right?) with her younger brother, Ramo, and sister, Ulape. One day, a group of Russian hunters (Aleutians) land on the island to hunt for otter. This is when the trouble really begins.
Once upon a time in France, a baby was born under the summer sun. His parents named him Jacques. As he grew, Jacques fell in love with the sea. He dreamed of breathing beneath the waves and swimming as gracefully as a fish. In fact, he longed to become a manfish. Jacques Cousteau grew up to become a champion of the seas and one of the best-known oceanographers in the world. In this lovely biography, now in paperback, poetic text and gorgeous paintings come together to create a portrait of Cousteau that is as magical as it is inspiring.
A beautiful edition with 110 images from the 1875 English edition. Use Amazon's Look inside feature to compare this edition with others. You'll be impressed by the differences. Don't be fooled by other versions that have no illustrations or contain very small print. Reading our edition will make you feel that you are traveling the seas with Captain Nemo himself.
More than 100 original illustrations by Louis Rhead. You want to read this book with illustrations.
An introduction by W. D. Howells.
Nicely formatted text in an easy-to-read font.
A beautiful cover from the 1891 edition.
Embark on a captivating tour of the waters that cover 70 percent of our planet! See our oceans come to life in mind-blowing detail. This is the ultimate children’s visual encyclopedia about the awe-inspiring blue planet!
How did a nineteenth-century dressmaker revolutionize science? Jeanne Power was creative: she wanted to learn about the creatures that swim beneath the ocean waves, so she built glass tanks and changed the way we study underwater life forever. Jeanne Power was groundbreaking: she solved mysteries of sea animals and published her findings at a time when few of women’s contributions to science were acknowledged. Jeanne Power was persistent: when records of her research were lost, she set to work repeating her studies. And when men tried to take credit for her achievements, she stood firm and insisted on the recognition due to her.
Follow Rothman’s inquisitive mind and perceptive eye along shorelines, across the open ocean, and below the waves for an artistic exploration of the watery universe. Through her drawings, discover how the world’s oceans formed, why the sea is salty, and the forces behind oceanic phenomena such as rogue waves. Colorful anatomical profiles of sea creatures from crustacean to cetacean, surveys of seafaring vessels and lighthouses, and the impact of plastic and warming water temperatures are just part of this compendium of curiosities that will entertain and educate readers of all ages.
Do you know a kid who’s captivated by what goes on beneath the ocean’s surface? This amazing entry into ocean books for kids is packed with hundreds of incredible facts for hours of underwater exploration. Pages of full-color pictures feature life in and around the sea including fish, dolphins, and shipwrecks!
Dive into the mesmerizing world of bioluminescence with "All About Bioluminescence." In this captivating book, readers embark on a journey through the depths of the ocean to discover the extraordinary glow-in-the-dark creatures that inhabit its mysterious realm. From the enchanting sea angel to the infamous anglerfish, each page is filled with stunning illustrations and fascinating facts about these luminous beings.With a focus on deep-sea dwellers, readers will uncover the secrets behind bioluminescence and learn how these creatures use light to communicate, camouflage, and lure prey. But the adventure doesn't stop there! "All About Bioluminescence" also includes hands-on activities like a glow stick experiment, allowing readers to experience the magic of bioluminescence firsthand.
One of the most enduringly popular adventure tales, Treasure Island began in 1881 as a serialized adventure entitled "The Sea-Cook"in the periodical Young Folks. Completed during a stay at Davos, Switzerland, where Stevenson had gone for his health, it was published in 1883 in the form we know today.Set in the eighteenth century, Treasure Island spins a heady tale of piracy, a mysterious treasure map, and a host of sinister characters charged with diabolical intentions. Seen through the eyes of Jim Hawkins, the cabin boy of the Hispaniola, the action-packed adventure tells of a perilous sea journey across the Spanish Main, a mutiny led by the infamous Long John Silver, and a lethal scramble for buried treasure on an exotic isle.
In Oceans and Seas! With 25 Science Projects for Kids readers ages 7 though 10 dive into the underwater world of some of the most amazing landscapes on Earth. On this amazing underwater adventure, kids experience the ocean’s tropical reefs and spot crabs, sea sponges, and thousands of kinds of fish darting in its crags and folds. They’ll meet a giant squid with eyes the size of dinner plates and an mbrella-like bioluminescent jellyfish.
From both a historical and scientific point of view, above and below the surface, this engaging guide brings the world’s oceans to life through fun facts, illustrations, and in-depth information. Interactive activities appear throughout, ranging from making solar stills and simple fishing spears to experimenting with a homemade diving bell and figuring out how much water it really takes to survive. With the oceans being the least explored environment on Earth, this reference illuminates some of the most incredible and surprising plants and animals as well as how to survive and navigate these vast expanses.
An intricate study of tide pool life is presented in text and pictures through the story of Pagoo, a her-mit crab.
Then, have your child choose one of either the broad habitats below or the smaller more specific ones and recreate it with a simple triorama.
WATER HABITAT TRIORAMA – OCEAN HABITATS
Pelagic Habitats
Pelagic habitats are the open waters of the ocean, away from the coast and the seafloor. They can be further divided into two zones: the epipelagic zone and the mesopelagic zone.
- Epipelagic Zone: The epipelagic zone is the sunlit surface layer of the ocean, extending from the surface to a depth of about 650 feet. This zone is home to a wide variety of marine life, including phytoplankton, zooplankton, fish, and seabirds.
- Mesopelagic Zone: The mesopelagic zone is the twilight zone of the ocean, extending from a depth of 200 meters to about 280 feet. This zone is home to a variety of marine life, including jellyfish, squid, and deep-sea fish.
Benthic Habitats
Benthic habitats are the habitats found on the ocean floor. They can be divided into two zones: the continental shelf and the deep sea.
- Continental Shelf: The continental shelf is the gently sloping area of the ocean floor that extends from the coastline to a depth of about 650 feet. This zone is home to a variety of marine life, including coral reefs, kelp forests, and seagrass beds.
Deep Sea: The deep sea is the vast, dark region of the ocean floor that extends from a depth of about 1,000 meters to the deepest part of the ocean, the Mariana Trench, which is over 36,000 feet deep.
This zone is home to a variety of marine life, including hydrothermal vents, anglerfish,giant squid, and deep-sea fish.
Ocean Anatomy was a wonderful resource to use while putting together the triorama, there was even a nice layout about Kelp forests.
MORE TRIORAMA IDEAS
- How to Make an Easy Rainforest Triorama With Kids
- How to Make a Water, Land, and Sky Animal Habitat Triorama
- How to Make an Amazing Shakespeare Triorama Book Report
- How to Make a Cool Greek Mythology Triorama With Kids
- How to Make a Giant Triorama Project About Cherokee Culture
- How to Make A Desert Triorama About the Gobi, Sahara, & Antarctica
- Amazing Geography Landforms: An Engaging Triorama Tutorial for Kids
- How to Make a Triorama Teaching the Primary Colors with Dollar Tree Supplies
- How To Build A Water Habitat Triorama With Kids
- How to Craft a Stunning Wolf Animal Triorama
- How to Make a Biome Triorama That Explores Alaska’s Amazing Features
- How to Make a Native American Triorama Highlighting Tribes in 3 Regions
- How to Make A Pyramid Diorama For States Of Matter
- The Wonders of the Great Barrier Reef: An Ecosystem Triorama
Now read a little more in depth on some of the habitats in the ocean.
4 OCEAN HABITATS
1. Coral Reefs
Coral reefs are one of the most diverse and beautiful habitats in the ocean. They are made up of colonies of tiny animals called coral polyps.
Coral polyps build hard skeletons made of calcium carbonate, which form the structure of the reef. Coral reefs are home to a variety of fish, invertebrates, and algae.
2. Kelp Forests
Kelp forests are underwater forests made up of giant kelp seaweed. They can grow up to 100 feet tall and forms dense underwater canopies.
Kelp forests are home to a variety of fish, invertebrates, and mammals.
3. Seagrass Meadows
Seagrass meadows are underwater meadows made up of seagrass plants.
And seagrass is a type of flowering plant that grows in shallow coastal waters. Seagrass meadows are home to a variety of fish, invertebrates, and sea turtles.
4. Open Ocean
The open ocean is the vast, deep part of the ocean that is away from the coast. The open ocean is home to a variety of fish, whales, dolphins, and sharks.
Additionally, look at more ocean hands-on activities.
OCEAN HANDS-ON ACTIVITIES FOR KIDS
- Crafty Ocean Adventures: How to Make a Paper Plate Stingray
- How To Mix Glow In The Dark Slime Ingredients To Make Awesome Ocean Slime
- Exploring The Ocean With Ice Experiments: Simple Sea Animal Rescue
- Free Under the Sea Worksheets : Dive into the Ocean’s Wonders
- Making Ocean Layers Soap
- Beware of Ocean Pollution: Fun Science Activity for Kids
- How to Make a Fun Paper Plate Fish | F is for Fish
- Under the Sea Science Activities With Amazing Disappearing Octopus Ink
- How do Fish Breathe Underwater Fun Activity & Animal Science Homeschool Curriculum
HOW TO BUILD A WATER HABITAT TRIORAMA WITH KIDS – KELP FOREST
You will need:
- 12×12 cardstock-blue
- Green pipe cleaners
- Green tape
- Hot glue
- Sand
- Craft glue/paintbrush
- Plastic fish/creatures
First, take your 12×12 sheet of paper and fold it to form a triangle by folding diagonal corners.
Run either your finger or something hard like a craft stick along the crease to make it sharp.
Unfold it and repeat in the opposite direction.
Cut just from one corner to the center like this.
Fold one cut side under the other and secure with glue. I like to put something heavy on top of it for a few minutes until the glue really grabs hold.
This blue will serve as a background for your ocean kelp forest.
But the next thing we need to do is create the ocean floor. To do that you’re going to paint on a thick layer of school glue to the bottom triangle and sprinkle it with sand.
To create the kelp, we wanted to use something that would stand up on its own but still give that flexible wavy appearance, pipe cleaners were perfect for this.
Create kelp leaves by tearing off strips of green tape and attaching it and twisting onto the pipe cleaners to give it more definition and interest you can use several different shades of green.
Attach the kelp stalks to the walls and several to the center by hot gluing them to small flat rocks you can gather in your yard.
Kelp attaches itself to the rocky bottom of the ocean so this worked out well as an anchor for our purposes as well.
Create a thick and beautiful kelp forest by adding lots of kelp into your triorama.
Now add your creatures like otters, fish crabs and other animals that you would find there.
