I love Montessori geography activities! We could have included both continents and oceans in our study, but we had a continents theme last month and are having an oceans theme this month. You’ll find a new Montessori-inspired oceans pack for our newsletter subscribers’ resource library!
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Montessori Shelves with Oceans-Themed Activities
Montessori Shelves with Oceans-Themed Activities
You’ll find Montessori-inspired oceans numbers, letters, and and more (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber) Note: The Montessori-inspired oceans pack isn’t designed as a complete oceans unit but as supplemental materials. I design the packs using realistic images that I’ve often looked for when preparing a unit study (such as font cards and phonogram cards featuring the letter and phonogram related to the theme and math cards with realistic images that fit the theme and can be adapted for math activities at a variety of levels.)
You could mix your oceans-themed activities among your shelves according to curriculum area. Or you could have a special oceans-themed area something like the one pictured. My shelves at the beginning of our unit have a mixture of skill levels. Many of the activities can be adapted for a variety of levels. Many of these are designed for early elementary as well as preschoolers. If you’re a homeschooler, just choose the activities that work for your child’s interests and ability levels. If you don’t have room for all the activities you’d like to do, simply rotate them.
Montessori Shelves with Continents-Themed Activities and The Globetrotters Art Print
Notice the framed art print Under the Wave off Kanagawa (Kanagawa oki nami ura), also known as The Great Wave (1833) by Katsushika Hokusai. It was painted in 1833 and is a free download from Useum.
For our monthly featured art print, I purchased a Li’l DAVINCI art frame that opens in the front for easily changing a free art masterpiece printable or vintage illustration to fit with the month’s theme. The frame can be switched from horizontal to vertical without changing the hanger, which is perfect!
If you’re wondering about the rugs and rug box I use, both the rugs and wooden rug holder are from Montessori Services. I love the Montessori Services rugs and rug holder! I used to use an umbrella stand something like these. I loved that for 1-3 rugs, but I needed something different when I had more grandchildren and some projects that needed more than one rug.
Favorite Shelves, Trays, Baskets, and More for Montessori Homeschoolers
I often get asked about the trays, baskets, etc., that I use, so I published a post with many of the items. You can find lots of helpful resources here. They’re not all essential, so don’t feel you need to have everything. Just choose what’s best for your budget and your unique family’s needs. You’ll find more ideas in the Living Montessori Now Amazon shop
Oceans-Themed Books for Kids
Even though I have books on shelves, I’m now keeping many of my themed books in a forward-facing display after placing a plant where the themed book basket was before. Most of my seasonal books are now in that book basket.
For toddlers and preschoolers, about ¾ of the books I use are typically Montessori friendly (focusing on reality without smiling or talking animals or smiling or talking vehicles).
Books for a Continents Unit
I’ll add links to the books we’re using in a couple of days.
You can see lots of Oceans Books for Kids here.
Look Inside Seas and Oceans Book with World Oceans 3-Part Cards and Chart
Look Inside Seas and Oceans Book with World Oceans 3-Part Cards and Chart
The book is Usborne Lift-the-Flap Look Inside Seas and Oceans.
Free Printable: Ocean 3-Part Cards and Control Chart from Imagine Our Life
(You can see another way to use this printable in a previous ocean unit.
Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea Book with Deep Sea Creatures Figures and Cards
Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea Book with Deep Sea Creatures Figures and Cards
The book is Gail Gibbons’ Exploring the Deep, Dark Sea.
Free Printable: Deep Sea Creature Identification Cards by Cara Ratner at TPT (These can be used as 3-part cards, although I just used them for matching in this activity.)
The cards go with the Safari Ltd. Deep Sea Creatures TOOB.
Oceans of the World Pages from Ocean Animals Book with Globe and Ocean Identification Activity
Oceans of the World Pages from Ocean Animals Book with Globe and Ocean Identification Activity
The book on the easel is National Geographic Kids Ocean Animals. It has gorgeous photos and illustrations.
Free Printable: Name 5 Oceans Geography Classroom Activity Map by Robert Phillips at TPT
The globe I have isn’t available right now, but I love having a small globe for my room with limited shelf space.
Sand Writing Tray for an Oceans Theme
Sand Writing Tray for an Oceans Theme
Free Printables: jellyfish /j/ font cards and zooplankton/z/ for sand writing tray (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).
If you would like help with introducing phonetic sounds, introducing objects with sounds, or beginning phonics in general, check out my DIY Beginning Montessori Phonics with Preschoolers.
Ch, Sh, and Th Treasure Chest Sorting Activity
Ch, Sh, and Th Treasure Chest Sorting Activity
Free Printable: Ch Buried Treasure Coins from MontessoriSoul
Free Printable: Sh Buried Treasure Coins from MontessoriSoul
Free Printable: Th Buried Treasure Coins from MontessoriSoul
I used our double sandpaper letters for ch, sh, and th along with six of the buried treasure coin words for each phonogram. I printed the coins at 75% to use with my 1.5″ circle punch, which I absolutely love! (I’ve used this and the 1″ version so many times with circle printables.) You could just use the /ch/ phonogram printables from Montessori Soul. We’ve already covered all the phonograms, so this is a fun review.
These are the double sandpaper letters I have.
This is a fun, adaptable treasure chest language activity. I just used a jewelry box I had that looks somewhat like a treasure chest.
DK’s Earth’s Incredible Oceans and Ocean Books with ch in Trench Phonogram Cards
DK’s Earth’s Incredible Oceans and Ocean Books with ch in Trench Phonogram Cards
Free Printable /ch/ in trench (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber). The cards come in print, D’Nealian, and cursive.
The books are DK’s Earth’s Incredible Oceans and DK’s Ocean. They have lots of interesting information about oceans, including ocean trenches. Note: You wouldn’t find treasure chests in trenches because of the depth of trenches and the fact that they aren’t in trade routes but in the middle of the ocean.
Ocean Alphabet Work
Matching Ocean Alphabet Cards and Sandpaper Letters
Free Printable: Montessori ocean alphabet cards (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).
There are so many ways to use these alphabet cards! Here I did a sandpaper letter and alphabet card matching activity. You’ll find many different ideas for using alphabet cards in my previous posts.
The Kids Ocean Counting Book with Ocean Animal Counting Activity
The Kids Ocean Counting Book with Ocean Animal Counting Activity
The book is National Geographic Little Kids Ocean Counting with gorgeous photos, as usual!
Free Printable: World Map Number Cards (part of a previous Montessori-Inspired Ocean Pack, which is still available in our subscriber library.) Just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).
Free Playdough Numbers and Counters printable (from our free Montessori-Inspired Fall Playdough Math Pack … or any of our seasonal playdough math packs).
I love the Safari Ltd. Good Luck Minis! There are both Ocean and Coral Reef Fun Packs that work well for an oceans theme.
Teen Number Ocean Animals Work
Teen Number Ocean Animals Work
Free Printable: Ocean Number Cards (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).
Free Printable: Montessori Large (and Small) Number Cards from The Learning Ark Montessori at TPT
The photo shows mini ocean resin animals (I used starfish and jellyfish). It took a bit longer to arrive (after I took the photos), but I especially love the mini jellyfish. Both sets are fun!
Ocean Activities on Another Shelf
Free Ocean Printables on Another Shelf
I have a variety of free ocean printables here:
Free Printable: 5 Oceans Foldable Booklet by Ofori Facts at TPT
Free Printable: World map with continents and oceans, animals and landmarks printable by Empowered Teaching and Parenting at TPT
Free Printable: Layers of the Ocean Craft from Fun House Toys
Free Printable: Parts of Trilobite | Sorting animals by ocean zone | 2nd Great Lesson by Mindful Montessori Solutions at TPT
Free Printable: Make Your Own Layers of the Ocean Bottle from Tanglewood Hollow
Ocean Printables on Another Shelf
This photo shows the free ocean printables from above along with two pages from the Magic School Bus Rides Again: Exploring Oceans Science Kit. We had gotten this kit during a previous seashell unit and had lots of fun with the seashell-themed activities in it. I had saved parts for other units, and the layers of the oceans activities are perfect for this unit. These particular activities have stickers, so they’re best for one child at home or a small group working together.
Free Geography Packs
Montessori-Inspired Oceans Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Ocean Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my email to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Continents Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Montessori-Inspired Me on the Map Pack for DIY Cards and Counters, Number or Letter Matching, Number or Letter Basket, Bead Bar Work, Hands-on Math Operations, Number or Letter Salt/Sand Writing Tray, Letter Tracing, DIY Movable Alphabet, and Creative Writing (subscriber freebie, so just sign up for my newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
More Geography Resources
Free Continents Printables and Montessori-Inspired Continents Activities
Free Continent and Ocean Songs and Rhymes for Circle Time
- “All About Me” Free Printables and Activities for Back to School
- DIY Cosmic Nesting Boxes, Map Towers, and “Me on the Map” Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Compass Rose Activities and Outdoor Compass Walks
- DIY Montessori Globes
- Land, Water, Air Activities from Montessori By Mom
- Montessori Land, Air, and Water Activities
- Continent Map Work
- Montessori Continent Boxes
- Creative Ideas for Montessori Continent Boxes from Around the World
- Montessori Continent Activities for North America (or Applied to Other Continents)
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures and Landmarks – North America
- Montessori Activities for South America (and Other Continents)
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures – South America
- Montessori Activities for Europe (and Other Continents)
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures and Landmarks – Europe)
- Montessori-Inspired Study of Africa
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities Using Replicas – Africa
- Simple African Animal and Continent Map Cut-and-Paste Activity {Free Printables}
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures and Landmarks – Asia
- Montessori-Inspired Continent Activities with Animal Figures – Australia
- Montessori-Inspired Little Passports Activities – Australia
- Montessori-Inspired Little Passports Global Adventure (This post contains Montessori-inspired activities for many individual countries using Little Passports packages and resources found online.)
- Earth Exploration Activities from Montessori By Mom (includes a variety of geography activities)
- Montessori-Inspired Map Activities Using Pin It! Maps
More Ocean Resources and Activities
- Free Ocean Printables and Montessori-Inspired Ocean Activities
- Free Ocean Songs and Educational Videos
- Free Guided Ocean Meditations for Kids {Mindfulness Resources}
- Free Guided Ocean Meditations {Mindfulness Resources for Teens and Adults}
- Free Ocean Animal Cutting Strips (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
- The Best Ocean Books for Kids
- The Ultimate Montessori-Inspired Shark Unit
- Free Shark Songs and Educational Videos
- Non-Scary and Montessori-Friendly Resources for a Shark Tooth Dig
- How to Make a Simple Ocean Animal Water Table or Sensory Bin Featuring Sharks
- Shark Water-Bead Number or Letter Sensory Bin
- Free Shark Printables and Montessori-Inspired Shark Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Ocean Unit
- Montessori-Inspired Resources for World Oceans Day
Montessori-Inspired Ocean Math Activities - Shells and Starfish Activities + Free Printable from Montessori By Mom
- Farm, Zoo, & Ocean Animal Sensory Bottles for Babies and Toddlers
- Coral Reef Kit and Sensory Bin
- DIY Coral Reef Water Table with Practical Life Activities
- How to Make a Simple Ocean Animal Water Table or Sensory Bin Featuring Sharks
- Ocean-themed, Editable Name and Word Tracing Pack in Print or Cursive
- Free Shark Printables and Activities for a Montessori-Inspired Shark Unit
- Free Orca Printables and Montessori-Inspired Orca Activities
- Favorite Books for an Orca Theme
- Montessori-Inspired Orca Tray with Sensory Bottle for Toddlers and Preschoolers
- Free Beluga Whale Printables and Montessori-Inspired Activities
- Favorite Books for a Beluga Whale Theme
- Ocean Unit Study Pinterest Board
If you’d like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout September and October, see my September Themed Activities for Kids and October Themed Activities for Kids.
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