World Oceans Day ideas for OSHC
18 DIY activities for a world oceans day at before and after school care or vacation care, usually run around Summer or 22 April. Pick and mix, or build a balanced day in one click.
Clay Starfish
Children mould starfish from air-dry clay and press texture into the arms with toothpicks, learning about sea creatures as they go.
Earth Day · Environmental Day · World Oceans Day +1Coffee Filter Earths
Children colour coffee filters with blue and green markers and spray them so the colours blend into a bright planet Earth.
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.
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.
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.
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.
Clean Up Australia Day · World Oceans Day · Environmental Day +3Waterways Pollution Demo
Children use a simple model to see how litter on the ground travels through drains into waterways.