Next week’s Camp Au Pair theme is Under the Sea.
Camp Au Pair – Under the Sea Week!
Shark Week is just around the corner! If you have kids who are fascinated by everything ocean-related, you can find crafts, recipes, activities, and games related to creatures who live under the sea here on the Camp Au Pair – Under the Sea pinboard.
Local Field Trips – We might be far from an ocean, but there are plenty of local attractions where you and the kids can get up close to sharks, sea turtles, polar bears, and other denizens of the deep. As always, get permission from your host parents before any outings. Check the websites before you go to be sure you understand the hours, costs, and whether advance tickets/reservations are required.
- Pet or outdoor store Sheels (Eden Prairie) Aqualand (Minneapolis, Cannon Falls)
- Sea Life (Mall of America)
- Como Zoo (St. Paul) or Minnesota Zoo (Eagan)
- Make a bathyscope and take it to a local lake. Kids can stand in water and clearly see what’s going on below the surface. (Pro tip – use cheap generic plastic wrap, it’s stronger than the fancy stuff.)
National Oceanic & Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) – NOAA has a lot of fun, interactive and educational activities on their website. They focus on whales, sharks, sea turtles, sea lions and more.
- Virtual Underwater Dive
- Online Games
- Puzzle, Activity & Coloring Sheets
Webcams – You can do a google search for aquariums and zoos across the country (and the world) with webcams that allow you to observe sea creatures. Here are a few to get you started.
- Aquarium of the Pacific – Tropical Reef, and Sea Nettles
- Clearwater Marine Aquarium – Dolphins, Otters, and Turtle Rescue
- Monterey Bay Aquarium – Jellyfish, Sharks, and Crabs
Videos – Look for fun videos on YouTube about sea creatures. There’s more to see than Baby Shark. Movies like Finding Nemo, Dolphin Tale, and The Little Mermaid also go well with this theme.
- Ocean Animals for Kids
- All About Sharks for Kids
- Learn How to Save Sea Turtles
- Turtle Facts for Kids is a good video to start with for younger kids.
- If your kids are a little older, check out 10 Crazy Facts About Sea Turtles.
Books – Stop by your local library and look for books on sea creatures. The Rainbow Fish is a classic children’s book, your kids may already own. If not, you can find videos like this of it being read aloud.
Movies – There are lots of movies with under the sea themes.
- A Dolphin Tale
- Finding Dory
- Finding Nemo
- Little Mermaid
- Moana
- Moana 2
- Shark Tale
- Song of the Sea
Television – There are some episodes of children’s television shows that talk about life under the sea.
The Magic School Bus is a television series that follows Ms. Frizzle and her class as they set off on field trips. Most episodes can be found on YouTube. Here are some episodes that fit this week’s theme.
- The Magic School Bus Takes a Dive
- The Magic School Bus Goes to Mussel Beach
- The Magic School Bus Goes Upstream
Bill Nye the Science Guy has episodes on Fish, Marine Animals and more on YouTube.
The Discovery Channel has an annual Shark Week coming up on July 26. Check out 15 JAW-some Activities for Shark Week with lots of fun ideas for kids in grades 5 and up, but a few for younger kids too.
Photo: violetartsensory
