Under the Sea ideas for OSHC
28 DIY activities for a under the sea at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around Summer or Winter. Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.
Beach Games Afternoon
Children play beach-style volleyball and take on a sandcastle challenge in the sandpit, bringing a beach feel to the service.
Polar Day · Science Week · Winter Wonderland +2Blubber Glove Experiment
Children put one hand in a shortening-lined bag and dip both hands in icy water to feel how fat keeps polar animals warm. Memorable science.
Japan Day · Children's Week · Kite Day +2Carp Windsocks
Children make colourful paper fish windsocks inspired by a Japanese tradition for Children's Day.
Under the Sea · Clay and Pottery Day · Beach Day +1Clay Starfish
Children mould starfish from air-dry clay and press texture into the arms with toothpicks, learning about sea creatures as they go.
Under the Sea · Beach Day · Games Day +1Fishing Net Tag
Taggers link arms to form a fishing net and try to catch fish as they run across the field; each caught fish joins the net.
Pirate Day · Sensory Day · Treasure Hunters Day +1Gold Dig Sensory Tub
Younger children sift through coloured rice or sand to find hidden coins and jewels. Calm, absorbing sensory play.
Animal Theme · Under the Sea · World Oceans Day +3Group Ocean Wall Mural
Children create sea animal artworks that are collected into one large underwater mural, giving everyone a part in a shared display.
Beach Day · Under the Sea · Aquatic Adventure +1Handprint Crabs and Lobsters
Younger children paint their hands and press prints onto paper, turning them into crabs or lobsters with simple details.
Polar Day · Under the Sea · Winter Wonderland +1Magnetic Ice Fishing
Children use magnetic rods to catch paper fish from a pretend icy pool. A gentle game with counting.
Aquatic Adventure · Under the Sea · Science Week +3Ocean Fizz Bath Bombs
Older children mix and mould blue fizzing bath bombs with a small sea creature toy hidden inside, exploring a simple acid and base reaction.
Under the Sea · Science Week · World Oceans Day +2Ocean in a Bottle
Children combine oil and blue-coloured water in a sealed bottle and tip it gently to create rolling waves, exploring why oil and water don't mix.
World Oceans Day · Under the Sea · Science Week +1Ocean Layers Density Jar
Children pour liquids of different densities into a jar to create layers like the zones of the ocean.
Beach Day · Under the Sea · Aquatic Adventure +2Paper Plate Fish
Younger children turn paper plates into colourful fish by cutting a tail and painting scales, practising cutting and colour.
Under the Sea · World Oceans Day · Craft Day +1Paper Plate Jellyfish
Children paint a paper plate dome and hang streamers and ribbons as tentacles to make floating jellyfish.
Book Week · Craft Day · Under the Sea +2Picture Book Craft Response
Younger children listen to a picture book and then make a craft linked to the story, deepening their connection to it.
Pirate Day · Treasure Hunters Day · Dramatic Play Day +1Pirate Party Day
A whole day of pirate dress-up, treasure hunts, games and crafts. Children set sail on a full adventure from morning to afternoon.
World Oceans Day · Clean Up Australia Day · Recycle Day +3Plastic in the Ocean Demo
Children add plastic items to a tub of water with toy sea creatures, see how plastic tangles and floats, and test ways to clean it up.
Under the Sea · World Oceans Day · Art Attack Day +1Porthole Sea Scenes
Children paint an underwater scene in the centre of a paper plate, then frame it with foil to look like a ship's porthole.
Beach Day · Summer Holidays · Under the Sea +2Sand Sculpture Contest
Children sculpt animals, cars or creatures from damp sand, exploring texture and design in a creative outdoor contest.
Aquatic Adventure · Under the Sea · Cooking Day +2Sea Creature Biscuit Decorating
Children ice plain biscuits to look like fish, turtles and other sea creatures, practising fine motor skills and creative design.
World Oceans Day · Under the Sea · Puppet Day +1Sea Creature Puppets
Children make sock or paper bag puppets of sea creatures, then use them for a short puppet show.
Under the Sea · Shark Week Day · World Oceans Day +1Shark Facts Quiz
Teams answer quiz questions about sharks, from how they breathe to where they live, learning surprising facts along the way.
Shark Week Day · Under the Sea · Clay and Pottery Day +1Shark Tooth Necklaces
Children shape shark teeth from air-dry clay, then thread them on string to make necklaces.
Shark Week Day · Game Show Day · Under the Sea +1Shark Trivia Teams
Teams answer fun questions about sharks and ocean life to earn points.
Shark Week Day · Under the Sea · Games Day +3Sharks and Minnows
Runners try to cross the field without being tagged by the shark, and tagged players join the shark team.
Book Week · Under the Sea · World Oceans Day +2Under the Sea Reading Day
Children read ocean-themed books together and then make ocean crafts inspired by what they read.
Aquatic Adventure · Under the Sea · Beach Day +2Underwater Aquarium Jars
Children layer sand and shells in a jar and hang paper fish from fishing line to create their own miniature aquarium scene.
Pirate Day · Obstacle Course Day · Ninja Obstacle Day +1Walk the Plank
Younger children balance along a taped line or beam over imaginary shark waters while carrying a toy parrot. Builds balance and imagination.