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Ocean Commotion Jellyfish

We had so much fun learning about jellyfish with Mother Goose Time! Day 11 included Plankton & Jellyfish.

Each day our circle time starts out with a discussion question: What might you see floating in the ocean? Well, there are many answers to that question. Then I can introduce what plankton are.

The opening song is always fun too. To the tune of “The Farmer in the Dell”:

THE PLANKTON DRIFTING BY

The plankton drifting by,
The plankton drifting by,
Reach out and eat it up,
The plankton drifting by.

What Goes Together? Animal photo cards and letter cards were included for this activity. I like that this is more than a matching game. Kids love matching games, but how much better to challenge them with the letters we’re learning to work on literacy and phonics skills.

Ocean Commotion Jellyfish

The biggest hit was this awesome craft project! Jellyfish hats! A plastic shower cap was provided for each child as well curling ribbon. The idea is simple really, just tape lengths of curling ribbon to the hat and wear it!

Discuss: How do you think jellyfish could be dangerous? Explore: Invite children to explore the shower hats. That was easy! Several of them had seen them before so they put it on right away. Create: Attach the “tentacles” to the shower cap with tape. Play: Wear the jellyfsh hats and pretend to drift around the ocean.

Ocean Commotion Jellyfish hats #MGTblogger

The Jellyfish Jiggle song on the Ocean Commotion CD was perfect for music & movement with the jellyfish hats on.

Pat your belly and do the jelly
Jellyfish, jellyfish jiggle
Ba, da, ba, ba, da, ba, ba
Jellyfish
Put your arms down
Then jump and jive
Jellyfish, jellyfish jiggle
Sinking down, down, down
Put your arms up
Then jump and jive
Jellyfish, jellyfish jiggle
Floating up, up, up
Come on take it back uuuuuup!

Ocean Commotion Jellyfish hats #MGTblogger

We also played with our jellyfish sensory bottle. Read about our “pet jellyfish” in the jar here

Ocean Commotion Jellyfish in a bottle #MGTblogger

There was a lot of extra curling ribbon left over and the girls wanted to cut it so we attached long lengths of ribbon to our mobile. It’s great for cutting down yarn or ribbon and working on fine motor skills and hand strength! There’s always a high engagement level on this cutting activity! I like how the ribbon moving on the mobile is similar to the jellyfish jiggling in the water. Supervision is needed when standing on chairs to cut the ribbon up higher!

Ocean Commotion Jellyfish cutting activity #MGTblogger Ocean Commotion Jellyfish cutting activity #MGTblogger

I’ve had a practicum student working with me for the last 12 weeks so this paper bag jellyfish was one of the lessons she presented.  She said she found the idea through Pinterest, I’m guessing from No Time for Flash Cards. They turned out so cute! k21 k22  

Did you know?

Jellyfish are actually a type of plankton. All types of plankton float or drift in the water. Jellyfish can also pulse their bodies to move them through the water.  Plankton is tiny floating creatures that are a food source for many fish and mammals in the ocean.

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