Ocean Aquarium in the Dramatic Play Center

Dramatic Play is a center that can get boring, so spice it up by transforming it into an Aquarium! The kids LOVED this theme, and so did the teachers! It was something new and different and involved ocean animals. Kids LOVE ocean animals. Change the center into something that they are interested in and excited to learn, and you will see a higher level of play!

Get the Aquarium Dramatic Play from my TPT store by clicking HERE.

Aquarium Dramatic Play

Haven’t done this theme before? No worries! I did all the research and planning for you. Included are planning pages to help you know what props to gather, print, and have students create. There is a 4-week unit plan with a book list and ideas to take the ocean theme all over your classroom.

Making the Aquarium! Something I do to engage my students in the creation of the dramatic play center, is have them help make the props. Students can help make so many props that can be used each year or for other themes. They can cut out food, help make the backdrop, or create props from dough or clay. For the aquarium, students helped paint the backdrop, completed ocean animal research projects that are then used as the displays, cut out food for the snack shop, and so much more! I closed the center for play for three days but made it open for crafts, exhibits, and prop-making. Don’t feel that is all that has to be finished when you open the center up for play; ours was not. It is a work in progress, just like a real aquarium.

Giant Aquarium! One of the main features of the aquarium dramatic play area is the giant aquarium that students help create. I used blue paper and let the students paint coral. Then, they create ocean animal crafts to add to the backdrop.

Ocean Animal Habitats! Students can create ocean animal habitats for different kinds of creatures that live in the sea. My little learners completed ocean research by reading books about one animal. Then, they created their habitat. You can have little learners share about their project for another great learning experience. Read here for more information on how little learners can complete ocean research projects. It is a fantastic way to integrate literacy and non-fiction books.

Visual Supports! In the center, students can pretend to be an aquarist, curator, or visitor. The aquarist is like a zookeeper at a zoo. The aquarist takes care of the ocean animals by preparing the food, feeding them, cleaning their habitat/exhibit, giving them medicine, and much more. The curator sells tickets, gives tours, teaches visitors about the animals, and works in the snack shop. The visitor buys a ticket, looks at the animals, takes pictures, and learns about the animals. To help students remember who does what, you can create role charts.

If you don’t have many students or have young children, you can take out the curator job and just have an aquarist and visitors. Then, the aquarist would handle the snack shop too.

Staff Shelf with Props! I keep all my props set out on these shelves for easy access. Everything is labeled (included in the aquarium pack).

Aquarist Tools! For the aquarist job, I have fish, seaweed, a thermometer, medicine, water test tubes, a piece of hose, a bucket, a dropper, goggles, and cleaning tools. These are items that the aquarist will need to care for the animals and keep the area clean for the visitors.

Snack Shop! Set up a snack shop for students to practice math and writing skills, along with tons of social skills! This is where the curator would be if you decide to have one in your dramatic play area. They would welcome visitors and sell them their tickets to enter. Then, they would handle the snack shop ordering, preparing, and serving the food. I keep a number line by my cash register to help students with math skills.

Snacks at the Snack Shop! My students help create all the snacks in the snack shop. The drink machine is a shoe box with a clear cup glued to the top. Then, I also keep different sizes of cups so students can practice size words (small, medium, large). The students made the whole pizza, and then I laminated and cut them into quarters (More math skills snuck in!). The nacho cheese is crumbled tissue paper; this is great for fine motor. they also cut out the circles for the nacho chips. The ice cream is crumbled tissue paper with tape around it. You can use these snacks for other dramatic play setups or save them for the next year.

Caring for Animals! The aquarist can care for the animals by filling their tanks with water, taking the water’s temperature, and testing the water for chemicals.

Feeding the Animals! Students can pretend to feed the animals. I have a container of seaweed (pipe cleaner pieces) and a container of fish figures. Throw in some tongs to encourage fine motor development.

Cleaning Habitats! Take care of the animals by cleaning their tanks. I have an empty spray bottle, cloth rag, and sponge for students to use to clean the tanks. If you are using real cleaning bottles, make sure that the contents are completely out before giving them to students.

Checking Temperatures! Aquarists take care of the sea creatures by checking and maintaining a proper water temperature. What a fun way to sneak in math skills while students play! The students may not use the tools correctly but are exploring their uses.

Aquarist Reports! Once the aquarist has completed all their tasks, they have a report to complete. Look at all these literacy skills being developed while students play. Remember, random letters and scribbles are still writing and are very important in development. Set up an area to display their reports too.

Petting Animals! The visitors can pet the animals and take pictures with their cameras. I love to listen to the conversations that they have while immersed in play. The aquarist can share information about each creature just like at a real aquarium.

Buying Tickets! The visitor must purchase tickets to enter the aquarium. Students will practice money-counting skills and conversation skills while buying tickets and talking to the curator.

Maps & Paths! Create paths through the aquarium with these shell cutouts; a great way to practice spatial reasoning. Give them maps and flyers from a real aquarium to submerge them in environmental print and work on map skills. Students can also draw maps if you want them to for another learning experience.

Ordering Snacks! The visitor will also get to order snacks from the snack shop. They will practice ordering, manners, paying & counting, and waiting for their food. These are great skills to practice through play. The curator will run the cash register, take the orders, prepare the food, and practice conversation skills.

Eating Snacks! The visitors will get to pretend to eat their snacks after they tour the aquarium. They can talk and share about their favorite part or share experiences of visiting a real aquarium.

An aquarium makes integrating other learning domains EASY! Did you see all the writing experiences I embedded in their play? There are aquarist’s reports, receipts, food orders, and animal of the day signs to write. Science and math are everywhere at the aquarium!! Here are some of the math and life science concepts they will explore at the aquarium: Counting (1:1 correspondence, number recognition), Measurement (making comparisons, measuring with tools), Living things go through a cycle of growth (life cycles), Food Chains, Living things have physical characteristics (size, color, parts, etc.), and Living things have basic needs and what those basic needs are.

Want to have an aquarium in your classroom?  Go grab Aquarium Dramatic Play by clicking on the cover!

Look at everything that is included! 

Yes, all the crafts are included, or you can buy Just the Crafts if you only want the ocean animal crafts. 

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