Hands-on easy ice experiments are a fun way to learn about the amazing ocean. Look at my page free Ocean Unit Study and Ocean Lapbook.
Are you ready for an adventure into the icy realms of the ocean?
Imagine a place where the sea is so cold that it’s covered in huge sheets of ice.
Even in these chilly waters, you can find some amazing sea animals who call this frosty place their home.
We’re learning about some of these animals and doing an easy sea animal ice rescue.
Imagine a sea animal like a seal or a walrus trying to swim or rest, and suddenly, they find themselves stuck on a piece of floating ice.
It sounds like a scene from an adventure movie, but it’s a real challenge for these amazing creatures.
Sometimes, ice floes can break apart, or sea animals can become stranded in areas where the ice isn’t melting fast enough.
Books About the Ocean for Kids
First, look at these books you want to have in your home library.
I prefer living books when I can find them. Then add reference 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.
Also, look at some facts about the sea animals.
4 Cool Sea Animals
Let’s dive in and meet some of these cool creatures!
Here are some facts about sea animals.
1. Icefish
Icefish are a group of fish that live in the icy waters of the Antarctic.
They have a super cool adaptation,
They don’t have red blood cells! Instead, their blood is clear and helps them survive in the freezing temperatures.
Icefish have special proteins that keep their blood from freezing, so they can swim around and hunt for food in the super-cold water.
2. Beluga Whales
Beluga whales are another fascinating Arctic resident.
Known as the “canaries of the sea,” belugas are famous for their wide range of sounds and whistles.
They have white skin, which helps them blend into the icy waters and also keeps them warm.
Beluga whales are social animals and often travel in groups called pods, chatting away with their squeaks and clicks.
3. Polar Bears
Also, learn about the polar bears.
These big, fluffy bears are not actually sea animals, but they live in the icy Arctic region and spend a lot of time on sea ice.
They’re fantastic swimmers and can paddle through the icy waters to hunt for seals.
Polar bears have thick fur and a layer of fat to keep them warm in the freezing temperatures.
4. Narwhals: The Unicorns of the Sea
Now let’s meet the narwhal, often called the unicorn of the sea.
Narwhals are whales with a long, twisted tooth that can grow up to 10 feet long—almost like a giant, spiraled horn!
They live in the Arctic Ocean and use their “horn” to help them find food and navigate through the ice.
They are really good at swimming under the ice and have a special ability to use sonar to find their way around.
Also, look at this beautiful picture book Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau.
More Ice Experiments
And look at these ocean hands-on ideas.
Ocean Activities for Kids
- 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
- Inuit of the Arctic: How Animals Survive Harsh Winters Fun Blubber Activity
Additionally, look at these ways to expand ice experiments for different ages.
3 Ways to Expand Learning About Ice
- Understanding Freezing and Melting: Learn how temperature changes affect solid and liquid states.
- Marine Life Awareness: Discuss the types of sea animals used in the experiment and their natural habitats.
- Environmental Impact: Reflect on how climate change and melting ice can impact marine ecosystems.
Finally, look how easy you can make this fun sea animal ice rescue.
Fun Sea Animal Ice Rescue
Rescuing a sea animal involves a lot of careful planning.
Besides giving your children a few extra tools explain to them how we need to be aware to spot animals in trouble.
For example, it could be binoculars, helicopters or even drones.
Look at this list of supplies.
- Ice tray
- Sea animal toys
- Water
- Container
- Stones or toy hammer
- magnifying glass
- salt to see what it does to the ice
- warm water. How does the ice react?
Optional: poster board or mat for outdoor use
First, place one sea animal in each section of the ice tray.
For this activity, I allowed for part of the sea animal (example: the tail) to stick out a bit.
This way your child had something to grasp onto when engaging with this activity.
Fill the ice tray with water.
Place in the freezer until frozen.
Remove from the freezer.
Place the frozen sea animal ice cubes into a bin.
Allow the child to engage with the activity, using stones or toy hammers/objects to try to break the ice away from each sea animal.
This is a great activity to do outside during a sunny day or to learn about a winter unit.
The best part about sea animal ice rescues is seeing these amazing creatures return to their homes and continue to thrive.
