An aquarium can be either a large, public place in which people are able to view sea creatures in re-creations of their natural habitat or any container in which people keep fish and other creatures. Aquariums provide two benefits: They give people an opportunity to see exotic creatures, such as sharks, whales, eels, and swordfish, and they allow scientists to study and learn about sea life.

After introducing aquariums to your students, invite them to add fish and color the reproducible page (PDF).

Here are some activity ideas related to the aquarium reproducible page (PDF).

Language Arts
During circle time, start a discussion about aquariums. Who has been to an aquarium? Name some animals you might see there. If children have never been to an aquarium, talk about fish tanks and observing the animals that live in them. Why are the walls of a fish tank clear?

Social Studies
What water animals live in your area? Encourage children and parents to visit local nature centers, aquariums, and libraries to find the answers. Invite children to share what they have learned. Display the results.

Art
Turn your classroom into an aquarium. Tape blue paper over a large surface of the wall. During center time, encourage small groups of children to use art materials to create sea creatures and plants. Invite children to write about their creations and paste them on the paper.

Music and Movement
Create a stage for aquarium animals to perform on. Talk about the amazing things that sea animals such as dolphins can do. Children can pretend to be these animals and perform for an audience or trainer. Add balls, paper fish, hula hoops, and whistles for props.