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Ocean & Water. Dive into ocean animals and water science. Always keep an adult close during any water play. This is Month 10 of our free 12-month preschool curriculum for ages 3 to 5. Below you will find a weekly lesson plan, the letters and math to practice, science and art ideas, a supplies list, and easy ways to make it simpler or harder for your child.
- Month 10 of 12
- Ages 3–5 (best fit: 4–5)
- 4 weekly topics
- About 20–30 minutes a day
What Your Child Will Learn in Month 10
- New letters
- Sound games: rhymes, first sounds, and blending (c-a-t) as a stretch goal
- Language & literacy
- Blend sounds out loud for simple words (stretch) and tell a made-up ocean story with three events.
- Math
- Measure with cups (full, empty, more, less), graph sink-or-float results, and count to 20 (stretch).
- Science & discovery
- Sink or float, ocean in a jar (oil and water), and what happens to salt water when it dries.
- Social & emotional
- Persistence: try again when something is hard, and be brave with new things.
- Art & music
- Ocean wave painting and a shell collage.
- Movement & hands
- Pour, scoop, and funnel water. Practice hopping on one foot.
These goals match the five learning areas in the Head Start framework. Core goals are for most children. Anything marked stretch is optional. See the full list of learning areas and the typical milestones for ages 4 and 5.
Month 10 Weekly Lesson Plan
Do one short activity from each column, three or four days a week. Keep each one to about 10 to 15 minutes, and stop when your child loses interest.
| Week & topic | Letters & language | Math | Science | Art, music & movement |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Week 1: Ocean animals | Say the first sound in ocean animal names: s-s-shark. | Count fish on a page up to 10. | Compare animals that swim, crawl, and float. | Paint a wave. |
| Week 2: Beach and shells | Rhyme with sea and shell: bee and tree, bell and well. | Sort shells by size and count each group. | Look at shells with a magnifying glass. | Make a shell collage. |
| Week 3: Sink or float | Make predictions: I think it will sink because… | Graph how many items sank and how many floated. | Test items in a tub of water. | Make boats from foil or sponges. |
| Week 4: Water play and water safety | Talk about water safety rules and act them out. | Pour water between cups: full, half, empty. | Make an ocean in a jar with water, oil, and food coloring. | Splash safely in a small tub with an adult. |
Not sure how to fit this into your day? Use the sample daily rhythm.
Letters to Practice This Month
Sound games: rhymes, first sounds, and blending (c-a-t) as a stretch goal.
Play with letters through games, not drills: find them on signs and cereal boxes, trace them in sand or salt, and say the first sound of everyday objects. Knowing some letters is a typical milestone at age 5, so there is no pressure to master every letter.
Words to Use All Month
Use these words in everyday conversation and while you read. Hearing a word in many settings helps it stick.
- ocean
- wave
- shell
- fish
- sink
- float
- full
- empty
Supplies Checklist
Everything here is common household stuff. Tick items off as you gather them.
Easy Activities to Try at Home
Try this
- Sink-or-float tray: guess first, test, then sort items into two groups.
- Pouring station: use cups, funnels, and spoons in a tub of water.
- Ocean in a jar: mix water, blue food coloring, and a little oil and watch the layers move.
Read together
- Swimmy by Leo Lionni
- A House for Hermit Crab by Eric Carle
Check your local library. Ask the librarian for more ocean & water books.
Make It Easier or Harder
If your child needs more support
Do one water play activity and one shell activity.
If your child is ready for more
Add a graph of results and ask your child to explain why something floats.
Parent tip: Water play builds fine motor skills and math. Always stay within arm’s reach of children near any water, even a small tub.
Month check-in: Your child can predict sink or float and tell what happened.
Month 10 Preschool Curriculum FAQs
How do I keep water play safe?
Stay within arm’s reach at all times, even with shallow water, and empty containers when you are done.
What can we do if we live far from the ocean?
Use books, videos, a bathtub, or a bucket of water with shells and toy sea animals.
Is blending sounds too hard for a preschooler?
It is a stretch goal. Say a word slowly, like c-a-t, and let your child guess. If it is hard, go back to rhymes and first sounds.
All 12 Months
Add Free Printables to Month 10
Match this month’s lessons with free printables and coloring pages.
Sources
- Head Start Early Learning Outcomes Framework: Ages Birth to Five
- NAEYC: Developmentally Appropriate Practice
- CDC: Milestones by 4 Years
- CDC: Milestones by 5 Years
This guide is general educational information for parents. It is not medical advice and does not replace a developmental screening or guidance from your child’s doctor or teacher.