A shark unit is extra fun in the summer, whether you want to focus on sharks before, during, or after Shark Week. This year, our shark unit is a follow-up, although the printables and activities are great at any time!
Here, you’ll find links to free shark printables used to prepare hands-on activities and a new Montessori-inspired shark pack for our free newsletter subscribers’ resource library! This unit has resources for preschool through early elementary … especially advanced preschool through early elementary.
Disclosure: This post contains some affiliate links (at no cost to you).
Montessori Shelves with Shark-Themed Activities
Montessori Shelves with Shark-Themed Activities
You’ll find Montessori-inspired shark-themed 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 shark pack isn’t designed as a complete shark 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 shark-themed activities among your shelves according to curriculum area. Or you could have a special shark-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. 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 Shark-Themed Activities and Utagawa Kuniyoshi Art Print
Notice the framed illustration Sharks (c. 1837) by Utagawa Kuniyoshi. It’s a free download from Wikiart.
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
Books for a Shark Unit
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 Shark Unit
Top Shelf of Main Themed Shelf:
- My First Book of Sharks: All About the Largest Fish in the Sea for Kids with vivid shark photos and lots of easy-to-understand information.
- National Geographic Kids Can’t Get Enough Shark Stuff: Fun Facts, Awesome Info, Cool Games, Silly Jokes, and More is recommended for ages 7-10. It has lots of beautiful photos, fascinating facts, and fun games and activities.
- Shark pages from the gorgeous DK Smithsonian Picturepedia
- Shark pages from National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia
- Shark pages from DK Animal Atlas
Top Shelf of Forward -Facing Display:
- Ocean Anatomy
- The Big Book of the Blue (I love this series and have many of the books!)
- Ocean: A Visual Encyclopedia (Gorgeous book!)
2nd Shelf:
- Who Eats What? Food Chains and Food Webs
- Fish Everywhere. This isn’t one of Britta Teckentrup’s peek-through picture books, but it’s awesome anyway!
- Animal Classifications: Fish
3rd Shelf:
- The Ultimate Shark Field Guide with detailed watercolor illustrations
- DK’s Super Shark Encyclopedia: And Other Creatures of the Deep
- So Cool! Sharks (both fun and informative!)
4th Shelf:
- Hungry Hungry Sharks (It has a different cover now. We still had this from when my now-adult kids were homeschooled.)
- Shark Lady: The True Story of How Eugenie Clark Became the Ocean’s Most Fearless Scientist (This award-winning tells the story of Eugenie Clark who spent her life studying zoology and working to prove that sharks weren’t mindless killers but beautiful animals that should be appreciated and protected. Recommended for ages 4-8.)
- How to Spy on a Shark (a fun way to learn how scientists track mako sharks)
Bottom Shelf
- I Am the Shark (Both fun and informative!)
- Clark the Shark: Tooth Trouble
- American Museum of Natural History Sharks Board Book (gorgeous book for toddlers and preschoolers with interesting facts, stunning photographs, and cutout pages showing the relative sizes of the various types of sharks)
Some other animal and fish books we’re using:
- Tree of Life: The Incredible Biodiversity of Life on Earth
- DK Smithsonian Animal Book
- National Geographic Kids Little Kids First Big Book of Animals
- The Animal Book: A Visual Encyclopedia of Life on Earth is great for plant and animal classification as well as animal themes.
- DK Smithsonian Animal Book
- Animalium: Welcome to the Museum
- Nature Anatomy
- Ocean: A Photicular Book was a New York Times bestseller. It’s a super-fun book for multiple ages to look at with images that use Photicular technology to make each image like a 3-D movie on the page. It also tells about each ocean animal, including vital statistics such as size, habitat, range, diet, life span in the wild, and threats.
- National Geographic Kids Ocean Animals: Whos Who in the Deep Blue Sea
- Fantastic Fish (This series (I have and recommend the whole set) is great for young readers and preschoolers who are learning about animal classifications!)
- About Fish: A Guide for Children
- Books from my Best Ocean Books for Kids post.
- Books from my Favorite Books for a Fish Theme.
You can see many shark books here: Shark Books for Kids (including books as they’re published)
My First Book of Sharks with Shark Vocabulary Read and Write the Room
My First Book of Sharks with Shark Vocabulary Read and Write the Room
The book is My First Book of Sharks: All About the Largest Fish in the Sea for Kids with vivid shark photos and lots of easy-to-understand information.
Free Printable: Shark Vocabulary Read and Write the Room by Teacher Treasure Hunter at TPT
This is a fun activity for children who can read well. The printable is designed for grades 1-3. I placed the picture/vocabulary cards around the room, and my 6-year-old grandson, Caleb (who is a great reader), found the cards and wrote in the words to match the definitions. In the photo, he’s writing the word “gills” to go with the card peeking out from under the clipboard.
Can’t Get Enough Shark Stuff Book with Shark Attack! Rhythm Reading Game and Shark Jokes
Can’t Get Enough Shark Stuff Book with Shark Attack! Rhythm Reading Game and Shark Jokes
National Geographic Kids Can’t Get Enough Shark Stuff: Fun Facts, Awesome Info, Cool Games, Silly Jokes, and More is recommended for ages 7-10. It has lots of beautiful photos, fascinating facts, and fun games and activities.
Free Printable: Shark Attack! Quarter + Eighth Note Rhythm Reading Game by Becca’s Music Room at TPT (We’re using this as a cooperative game.)
Free Printable: Shark Jokes from Artsy Fartsy Mama
This unit has many activities that are perfect for early elementary. I tried to include as many fun games and activities as possible while still keeping up reading and other skills during the summer.
Shark Pages from Picturepedia with Shark Activities in the Background
Shark Pages from Picturepedia with Shark Activities in the Background
I’ve often used pages from the gorgeous DK Smithsonian Picturepedia (the book on our book easel). The book has so many amazing 2-page spreads! See below for information about the other shark activities.
Sand Writing Tray for a Shark Theme
Sand Writing Tray for a Shark Theme
Free Printable /h/ for hammerhead shark font cards (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my free newsletter to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber). They come in print, D’Nealian, and cursive.
You’ll see a variety of simple letter writing trays in my previous unit study posts. I often used the wooden tray from the Melissa & Doug Lace and Trace Shapes. You can use whatever tray or container work best for you, though.
The sandpaper letters I use with younger kids are available in print or cursive.
I typically now use this lovely spelling/alphabet tray from FamilyTreeWW on Etsy. I like it for writing more than one letter or spelling words. (Note: That sand tray is currently unavailable, but you’ll find lots of other options for Montessori sand trays on Etsy.) I found some colored sand in 12 colors on Amazon that I started to use instead of salt or colored salt. I love it because it’s so soft and feels great! I mixed some green in with the blue to give an ocean feel. The hammerhead shark figure is from our Safari Ltd. Ocean TOOB.
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.
Phonogram Work, Featuring sh in Shark and sh Dobble Game
Phonogram Work, Featuring sh in Shark and sh Dobble Game
Free Printable /sh/ in shark (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). They come in print, D’Nealian, and cursive.
Note: Normally, I don’t like to have two phonograms from the green series as our featured phonogram. “Shark” is an exception. I simply have to teach /sh/ for shark! With older children and good readers, I’d still focus on both /sh/ and /ar/. I would only focus on /s/ and /h/ together making the sound /sh/ in “shark” for younger children.
Free Printable: Sh Dobble Cards from MontessoriSoul
These are the double sandpaper letters I have.
We’ll be playing the Sh Dobble Game as a cooperative game. Whenever possible, I adapt game rules to make games cooperative.
/Sh/ for Shark in Cursive Work
/Sh/ for Shark in Cursive Work
American Museum of Natural History Sharks Board Book is a gorgeous book for toddlers and preschoolers with interesting facts, stunning photographs, and cutout pages showing the relative sizes of the various types of sharks. Even though it’s a board book, it’s still appealing to somewhat older kids, too.
Free Printable: shark fin alphabet cards (part of my subscriber freebies, so just sign up for my free newsletter 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 the alphabet cards can be used! This is just one idea for children who are focusing on both movable alphabet spelling and learning cursive.
I like having a cursive tracing board for children learning to write in cursive. (The one I have is sold out at the moment.) There are many options of cursive tracing boards on Etsy. I got a 2-sided version (with capital letters on one side and lowercase on the other), since capital cursive letters aren’t commonly seen on written materials.
The shark fin alphabet cards in print and cursive are easily adaptable, depending on the child’s level. They can be used for a variety of activities, such as matching letters with sandpaper letters, matching print to cursive letters, or movable alphabet word building.
Tiger Shark Subtraction Work
Tiger Shark Subtraction Work
Free Printable: Tiger shark number cards 1-10, 1-10 spinner, and subtraction symbols (part of my subscriber freebie pack, so just sign up for my free newsletter to get the link and password … or check the bottom of your latest newsletter if you’re already a subscriber).
I used fish beads from our penguin unit that the tiger shark eats (subtracts). The open book is DK’s amazing Super Shark Encyclopedia: And Other Creatures of the Deep.
This activity is similar to the platypus and flies subtraction activity from our mammal unit and milk snake and egg subtraction activity from our snake unit.
There are so many different activities you can prepare using the math cards! You’ll find many ideas in our previous units.
Shark Bookmarks and Parts of a Shark Pages
Shark Bookmarks and Parts of a Shark Pages
Free Printable: Shark Bookmarks from Artsy Fartsy Mama
Free Printable: Label the Shark Differentiated Activity from Twinkl (This has two simple parts-of-a-shark activities.)
Free Printable: Parts of a Shark Printable from Montessori By Mom in the Printables Highlight at @montessoribymom on Instagram. (This printable includes more parts of a shark than the other two.)
I like using plate holders for kids who are a bit older and don’t need everything on a separate tray. I can easily switch out activities throughout the month this way as well.
Shark Activities on Another Shelf
These printables aren’t free, but they’re great for a shark unit!
The open book is the National Geographic Animal Encyclopedia. (You’ll notice that I love National Geographic books with their gorgeous photos!)
I used blue kinetic sand (regular colored sand would work well, too) to bury the sharks from the Safari Ltd. Sharks TOOB (except for the ray). I left some shark fins and tails sticking out. I used the Sharks Safari TOOB Cards from Montessori Print Shop. They have 3-part cards, although I just used the control cards for a matching activity with the hidden shark figures.
Great White Shark Pages from Animal Atlas with Montessori Continent Globe, Are All Sharks Dangerous? Cards, and Schleich Shark
The Every Star Is Different Montessori-Inspired Shark Unit Printable Pack for preschool through elementary has lots of high-interest activities. I have a great math activity from it in our fish unit. The Are All Sharks Dangerous? is a fascinating sorting activity for kids who are interested in knowing which sharks are dangerous to humans.
I’ve often used the DK Animal Atlas for focusing on where specific animals live. I got the Schleich great white shark when my 6-year-old grandkids were toddlers. It’s been well loved!
Free Montessori-Inspired Shark Pack
Montessori-Inspired Shark 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).
More Shark-Related Resources:
Shark Nonfiction Books for Kids
Montessori-Inspired Fish 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 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 newsletter to get the link and password – or check your inbox if you’re already a subscriber).
Free Fish Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fish Activities
Favorite Books for a Fish Theme
Free Fish Do-a-Dot Phonics Printable (Montessori-Inspired Instant Download)
The Ultimate Montessori-Inspired Shark Unit
- August Themed Activities for Kids
- 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
- 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
- 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
Helpful Animal Classification Posts
- Living and Non-Living
- Plant and Animal Sorting
- Montessori Animal Classification
- Free Zoo Printables and Montessori-Inspired Zoo Activities
- Montessori-Inspired Animal Units
- Montessori Vertebrate Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
- Free Amphibian Printables and Montessori-Inspired Amphibian Activities
- Free Reptile Printables and Montessori-Inspired Reptile Activities
- Free Fish Printables and Montessori-Inspired Fish Activities
- Free Bird Printables and Montessori-Inspired Bird Activities post
- Free Mammal Printables and Montessori-Inspired Mammal Activities post
- Montessori Invertebrate Resources for Preschool Through Elementary
If you’d like ideas for calendar-based themes throughout July and August, see my July Themed Activities for Kids. and my August Themed Activities for Kids.
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