Fun Ocean Activities for Rainy Days and Crafty Kids

ByJenni

Rainy afternoons or weekends at home can be the perfect opportunity to dive into some ocean activities with your kids. These three simple and fun crafts are sure to keep young hands busy while sparking curiosity about the ocean. For lesson ideas check out our educational resources page.

1. Create an Ocean Diorama

Dioramas are a classic educational craft that never goes out of style! An ocean-themed diorama allows kids to explore their creativity while learning about marine life. Here’s what you’ll need:

  • A shoebox
  • Blue and yellow craft paper or paint (depending on how much drying time you have)
  • Glue, scissors, string, and tape
  • Ocean creatures (paper cut-outs or small plastic animals)
  • Extra craft supplies like pom-poms, crepe paper, or pipe cleaners

Instructions:

  1. Turn the shoebox on its side to create your diorama base.
  2. Line the inside with craft paper: blue on the back and sides (for water) and yellow on the bottom (for sand). Alternatively, paint these sections and let them dry.
  3. If using paper creatures, cut them out, colour or paint them, and hang them from the top of the box with string to mimic swimming. For plastic animals, add green crepe paper strips as seaweed for a fun 3D effect.
  4. Let your kids decorate the diorama however they like—there’s no wrong way to create an underwater world!
kids and parents enjoying arts and crafts
kids and parents enjoying arts and crafts

2. DIY Seaweed Playtime

Transform any space into an ocean wonderland with this simple DIY project! Perfect for decorating a room or creating an interactive play area.

You’ll need:

  • Green crepe paper
  • Scissors
  • String or yarn
  • A stapler (adult supervision required)

Instructions:

  1. Cut long strips of green crepe paper. These will be your seaweed strands.
  2. Lay your string or yarn flat on a surface. Fold about 2 inches of crepe paper over the string and staple it securely.
  3. Continue attaching strips of crepe paper along the string until you’re satisfied with your seaweed length.
  4. Hang the seaweed in a doorway at child height so kids can run through it and “play in the seaweed.”

3. Explore Plate Tectonics with an Orange

Introduce the concept of plate tectonics in a fun, hands-on way—plus, it ends with a healthy snack!

You’ll need:

  • One orange per child
  • Toothpicks
  • A plate

Instructions:

  1. Give each child an orange and a plate. Have them peel the orange, trying to keep the peel in the largest sections possible.
  2. Once peeled, ask them to reassemble the peel around the orange, using toothpicks to hold it in place.
  3. Explain that the orange represents Earth, and the peel represents its crust (the tectonic plates). Discuss how the plates move and shift, creating valleys, volcanoes, and mountains—just like the gaps and bumps in their orange peel!

These activities are not only fun but also offer great opportunities to weave in lessons about the ocean, marine life, and even earth science. Whether it’s crafting an underwater diorama, creating seaweed for pretend play, or exploring the Earth’s crust with oranges, these projects are sure to captivate kids while encouraging learning through play.

I hope you enjoy these ocean activities with your little ocean enthusiasts!

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