Fish

NEW! Interactive planning-Fish

(Open interactive planning-Fish) Print and use the document to present activities related to the theme for your group. 

CIRCLE TIME

Sit in a circle with the group. We suggest purchasing a fishbowl and a fish for the theme. Introduce children to their new pet to begin circle time. If you do not want to buy a fish, choose a book or a puppet that you can use to discuss different types of fish.

AREA SETUP

Hang several pieces of large, white cardboard on the wall at children's level. They can be used like a bulletin board. Throughout the theme, children can draw, paint, and display fish in their giant aquarium.

NEW! Thematic poster-Fish

(Open thematic poster-Fish) Print, laminate, and display the poster where parents are sure to see it.

NEW! Educa-theme-Fish

(Open educa-theme-Fish) Print and laminate the different elements representing the theme. The items can be used to present the theme to children (and their parents) or simply to decorate your daycare for the theme.

NEW! Educa-decorate-Fish
(Open educa-decorate-Fish) Print, laminate, and cut out the items. Use them to decorate your daycare walls and set the mood for the theme.

NEW! Pennants-Fish

(Open pennants-Fish) Print and let children decorate the different pennants. Cut them out and hang them in your daycare in the form of a garland.

PICTURE GAME

The pictures may be used as a memory game or to spark a conversation with the group. Use them to decorate the daycare or a specific thematic corner. (Open picture game - Fish) Print, laminate, and store in a "Ziploc" bag or in your thematic bins.

ACTIVITY SHEETS AND WRITING ACTIVITIES

NEW! Activity sheet-Fish

Activity sheets are suggested for each theme. Print and follow instructions. (Open activity sheets-Fish) 

NEW! Writing activity-F like Fish

(Open writing activities-F like Fish) Print for each child or laminate for use with a dry-erase marker.

LANGUAGE ACTIVITIES

NEW! Word flashcards-Fish

The flashcards may be used during circle time to spark a conversation or in your reading and writing area. They may also be used to identify your thematic bins. (Open word flashcards-Fish) (Open giant word flashcards-Fish) Print. aquarium, fish, seaweed, lake, river, scales, fin, fishing rod, rowboat, gills, net, hook.

NEW! Educa-chatterbox-Fish

(Open educa-chatterbox-Fish) Print, laminate, and cut out the cards. Decorate a shoebox and set the cards as well as a variety of small items related to the theme inside it. During circle time or, for example, when children are waiting for lunch to be served, have them pick one card or item out of your chatterbox at a time and encourage them to name the item and tell you what they know about it. 

NEW! Hanging fish

Cut several long pieces (approx. 1.5 meters each) of different shades of blue crepe paper streamers. Glue or tape the top part of each streamer high up on a wall. Twist them somewhat and glue or tape the bottom part of each streamer near the bottom of the wall to represent an ocean. Next, (Open various fish) print and cut out several fish and hang them in front of your ocean using different lengths of blue ribbon. Every time you walk past the fish, they will move and appear to be swimming or playing in the waves.

NEW! Word game-Fish

(Open word game-Fish) Print, laminate, and cut out several letters. Give each child a small shovel. You will also need several word flashcards. Using adhesive putty, press a word on each child’s shovel. Invite children to find and collect the letters that are required to write their word and arrange them in the correct order. Once they have succeeded, read their word. 

Rowboats
Ask your local grocer for a few cardboard boxes. Children decorate them and use them as rowboats. Give them each a fishing rod (stick with string and a magnet attached to the end). Let them go fishing for paper fish with metal paperclips attached to them.

Pebbles
Add multicolored aquarium pebbles to a container. Add figurines and tiny plastic fish. Let children use small nets to catch the fish.

Big fish, little fish
Cut several different sizes of fish out of paper or cardboard. (Open models - Fish) Print and laminate. Slide a paperclip onto each fish to represent the mouth. Add a magnet to the end of a string and tie the other end to a stick. Deposit two baskets on the floor, one for big fish and one for little fish. Children catch the fish and put them in the correct basket.

What floats?
This is the perfect idea for a warm and sunny day! Gather items which will float and items which will sink. Children will enjoy guessing whether each item will sink or float before dropping them in a tub of water.

Wiggly fish
Children perform somersaults on a mat and end with a creative pose.

The sound of fish
Blow bubbles and invite children to run around and pop them as fast as they can.

Silent fish
Play a silence game. When you give the signal, children must be silent, just like fish. The game ends when each child has spoken.

The big fish and the baby fish
(Like the cat and the mouse game) Designate one child to be the fish who must catch all the baby fish. If a baby fish is touched by the big fish, he becomes a big fish too. There is only one way to be safe: children must kneel, crouch down, or lay on their stomachs. If they are down low, the big fish cannot touch them.

Surprise fish

Tie a rope to an old broomstick. Add a clothespin to the end of the rope. Sit behind a couch or other piece of furniture to attach fish to the clothespin while the children are fishing. The object of the game is for children to take turns fishing. If you wish, you may attach small toys to the clothespin instead of fish.Variation: You may write points on the fish (example: a small fish=2 points, a big fish=5 points, etc.). Place various prizes on a table (for example for 2 points a child may choose a tiny ball). Children exchange their points for surprises.

The river
Deposit three hoola hoops next to each other on the floor (or trace three circles with ropes). Children stand around the hoola hoops. One by one, they must cross over the hoola hoops to the sound of rhythmic music. When the music stops, the child who is in a hoola hoop is a prisoner and must imitate a fish. Repeat. 

NEW! Modeling dough activity placemats-Fish

(Open modeling dough activity placemats-Fish) Print and laminate. Let children pick a placemat and provide modeling dough. Encourage them to use the dough to fill or reproduce the shapes that are on their placemat.

NEW! Where are the fish hiding?
(Open miniature fish) Print and laminate. Set the tiny fish on items throughout your daycare. When you give the signal, children search for them. There is no winner here. The goal is simply to have fun! At the end of the activity, you can let each child pick a fish to keep.

NEW! Cutting exercise-Fish

(Open cutting exercise-Fish) Print several copies of this document and cut out the different strips containing fish. Give one strip to each child. Using safety scissors, invite them to cut along the dotted lines.

NEW! I am inventing my fish

(Open I am inventing my fish) Print and laminate. Cut each fish in half. Hand the pieces to the children in your group and invite them to create their own unique fish by assembling a head and body. Note that they do not have to use pieces that originally went together.

NEW! Game-Four fish

(Open game-Four fish) Print, glue the cards on opaque cardboard, and cut them out. Arrange all the cards upside down on the floor or table (so you can’t see the illustrations). Children take turns rolling a die. Every time a child rolls a “1”, he can turn a card. If he doesn’t already have this fish in front of him, he keeps it and places it in front of him for everyone to see. The first child who has collected all four fish wins.

NEW! Fish toss and catch

Explain how dolphins catch fish in their mouth. Give each child a small disposable drinking glass containing a few fish crackers. Show them how they can toss a cracker up in the air and try to catch it in their mouth. Be sure to promptly pick up any crackers that fall on the floor to avoid them getting crushed under children’s feet. You can use those that do fall on the floor for a craft or a counting exercise.

NEW! Let’s save the fish

(Open tiny fish) Print the fish and glue them on heavy cardboard before cutting them out. Before children arrive in the morning, wrap the fish with different elements. For example, you can slide several rubber bands or hair ties on a fish, in every direction. You can also twist several pipe cleaners around a fish or wrap it with long pieces of ribbon, once again in every direction. To save and free the fish, children’s little fingers will be put to work!

NEW! Lacing-Fish
(Open lacing-Fish) Print, laminate, and cut out the fish and use a hole-punch to make holes all the way around the contour of each one. Set shoelaces or ribbons on the table and encourage children to lace the fish shapes.

NEW! Dive like a fish

You will need a parachute (or a blanket) and a few plastic rings or other items that are easy to grab. Set the parachute on the floor and slide the rings under it. Children take turns diving under the parachute to collect rings.  Set a timer and see who collects the most before the time is up.  

NEW! Big or small fish

Cut several different sizes of fish out of paper or cardboard. (Open models-Fish) Print and laminate the fish. Slide a paperclip on each fish to represent its mouth. Glue or secure a magnet to one end of a piece of string and wrap the other end around a stick. Set two baskets on the floor: one for small fish and one for big fish. Children take turns using the fishing rod to catch a fish. Encourage them to drop it in the correct basket, per its size.

NEW! The river

Set three hula hoops on the floor in a row (or use string to draw 3 circles). Children form a circle around the hula hoops and take turns jumping in the hula hoops to cross an imaginary river to the sound of fast-paced music. When the music stops, if a child is standing inside a hula hoop, he must briefly mimic a fish.

NEW! Fish race
Form 2 teams. Determine a start and finish line. Children from each team stand single file behind the start line. The first child in line for each team must run to a chair that is set on the finish line and sit on it. The leader of the game (early childhood educator) hands seated children a gummy fish or a fish-shaped cracker. Children must fully eat and swallow their fish before heading back to the start line to tag the next player in line. Continue until every player in one team has completed the course and made it back to his team for the win.

NEW! Oops, I lost my fish!
(Open models-colorful fish) Print and laminate. Make a tiny hole at the top of each fish. Thread a piece of yarn or ribbon through each hole. When you insert the other end of the yarn or ribbon inside a child’s waistband, the fish must touch the floor. The object of the game is for children to step on their peers’ fish to make the yarn or ribbon fall out of their waistband. Children run around the daycare trying to step on their peers’ fish while attempting to avoid the same fate.

NEW! The fish and the minnow
This game is played much like the cat and mouse game. One player is chosen to be the fish and all the other children become minnows. When a minnow is touched by the fish, the minnow becomes a fish too. The only way a minnow can avoid being captured by the fish is to get down on his knees or fully lie down on his stomach. The rule of thumb: get low to avoid being touched by the fish.

NEW! Flying fish

(Open models-colorful fish) Print and laminate several copies of this document. For this activity, you will need a parachute or a blanket. Each child holds the edge of the parachute. Set the fish in the center. When you give the signal, children move the parachute up and down to represent waves and send the fish flying.

NEW! a fish in water
Have children wear their rain boots and raincoat. Have fun walking through puddles with your group.  

NEW! Where are the fish?
(Open models-colorful fish) Print and laminate several fish. Before children arrive, hide fish throughout your yard. When you give the signal, invite children to search for fish.

NEW! Sounds of the ocean

Encourage children to listen to ocean sounds (or other sounds from nature) to help them relax. 

NEW! Silent fish

Play the silence game. When you give the signal, children must stop speaking and pretend they are fish swimming silently in the water. If a child speaks, he is immediately eliminated.  

NEW! Lightweight fish

Use tissue paper to create a fish for each child in your group. Determine a start and finish line. Children set their fish on the start line. When you give the signal, children must blow on their fish to move it towards the finish line. The first child who successfully blows his fish over the finish line wins. 

COGNITIVE ACTIVITIES

NEW! Letter game-Fish

(Open letter game-Fish) Print, laminate, and cut out several letters as well as the playing cards. Invite children to pick a card with a letter printed on it. Next, they must find the fish that has the same letter printed on it on their playing card and set a token on it. Pick another letter card, much as you would do if you were playing bingo. The first child who successfully covers every fish on his playing card wins.

NEW! Counting fish eyes

(Open counting fish eyes) Print, laminate, and cut out the fish. Press a piece of female Velcro behind each fish. Glue 1 to 15 colorful wiggly eyes (different sizes) on large Popsicle sticks. Press a piece of male Velcro at the top of each stick. Children pick a stick, count the eyes, and then press the fish that has the corresponding number printed on it at the top.

NEW! Sorting activity-Fish

(Open sorting activity-Fish) Print the fish and encourage children to sort them per various characteristics (color, size, etc.).

NEW! Educ-math-Fish
(Open educ-math-Fish) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must count the objects in each rectangle and circle the corresponding number. 

NEW! Educ-trace-Fish

(Open educ-trace-Fish) Print for each child. Children must trace each line using a crayon of the corresponding color.

NEW! Educ-same and different-Fish
(Open educ-same and different-Fish) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must circle the item that is different in each row. 

NEW! Educ-differences-Fish

(Open educ-differences-Fish) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must find the differences between the two pictures and circle them using a dry-erase marker.

NEW! Educ-shadows-Fish

(Open educ-shadows-Fish) Print and laminate for durable, eco-friendly use. Children must draw a line between each image on the left and its shadow using a dry-erase marker.

NEW! Our pompom fish

(Open pompom fish) Print and cut out the fish. Arrange them on a wall and cover them with adhesive paper, with the sticky side towards you. Fill a bin with colorful pompoms. Children take turns picking a pompom out of the bin and pressing it in a circle of the corresponding color. Encourage children to name the color.   

NEW! Coloring hunt and seek-Fish

(Open coloring hunt and seek-Fish) Print. Children find the shapes in the scene and color them using the correct color.

NEW! Roll-Goldfish

(Open roll-Goldfish) Print for each child. They must roll the die, count the dots and add the corresponding number of crackers to their fishbowl.

NEW! Let’s feed the fish

(Open game-Let’s feed the fish) Print, laminate, and cut out the fish face along with the center of its mouth. Glue the mouth over the opening in an empty tissue box. Print, laminate, and cut out the tiny fish and the playing cards. Children take turns picking a card and feeding the fish the correct number of tiny fish by inserting them in its mouth.

NEW! Puzzles-Fish

(Open puzzles-Fish) Print, laminate, and cut out the puzzle pieces. Let children use them to recreate the different scenes.

MORAL AND SOCIAL ACTIVITIES

NEW! Scene-Jumping and diving fish

(Open scene-Fish) Print the scene for each child. Children must associate the fish per the colors in the scene.  

CULINARY ACTIVITIES

Snack: serve small cheese-flavored crackers shaped like fish.

Lunch: serve fish & chips.

Blue Jell-O bin
Let children play in a large bin of blue Jell-O. Add tiny plastic fish to the bottom of the bin. Children plunge their hands in the bin or use a small net to catch the fish.

ARTS & CRAFTS

Fishy stained glass window
Grate old waxed crayons, carefully separating the colors. Children deposit the waxed crayon shavings on a sheet of waxed paper. Place another sheet of waxed paper on top and seal the two sheets using an iron on low heat. Cut fish shapes out of the waxed paper. Glue to a window or hang with invisible thread. The result is impressive!

Aquarium
This is a collective project. Trace several large fish on cardboard. Cover the surface with glue and add multicolored aquarium pebbles. Display the masterpieces side by side to create a large aquarium.

NEW! Finger puppets-Fish

(Open finger puppets-Fish) Print the puppets on heavy paper or cardboard. Have children cut them out and color them if you are using the black and white ones. Show children how they can insert their fingers in the puppets to bring them to life.

NEW! Puppets-Fish

(Open puppets-Fish) Print the puppet models on heavy paper or cardboard. Have children cut them out and decorate them with arts & crafts material. Glue each model on a Popsicle stick to complete your puppets.

NEW! Masks-Fish
(Open masks-Fish) Print and set the pieces in the center of the table. Let children create their own mask using arts & crafts material and crayons. Simply attach a string to either side of each mask so that you can tie their masks behind their head. 

COLORING PAGES

(Open coloring pages theme - Fish)

SONGS & RHYMES

The little fish

by: Patricia Morrison

sung to: The wheels on the bus

The little blue fish swims high and low
High and low, high and low
The little blue fish swims high and low
In its bowl

The little red fish swims round and round
Round and round, round and round
The little red fish swims round and round
In its bowl

The little green fish wiggles its fins
Wiggles its fins, wiggles its fins
The little green fish wiggles its fins
In its bowl

The little orange fish jumps for its food
For its food, for its food
The little orange fish jumps for its food
In its bowl

Have fun!

The educatall team