Tag Games

• Ocean-themed tag games include an octopus tag game, where one player is designated the "octopus" between two goal lines. The octopus shouts, "Swim, fish!" The other players must then try to pass the octopus in the "ocean," or the area between the goal lines, without getting tagged by the octopus. Any participant the octopus tags becomes a "tentacle" and must hold hands with the octopus to try to catch other players. Use blowup toys of fish and other ocean creatures in the "ocean" area as additional obstacles the players must run around.
  
  

Fishing Games

• Fill a baby pool with water and sand. Paint a shell gold, another silver and another bronze. Hide the painted shells along with unpainted shells under the sand in the pool. Have four or five players at a time search the "ocean" for the painted shells and award small prizes for the players who find each painted shell. Sea glass may also be used for this game, with a special prize awarded to the player who finds a green piece of sea glass.
  
  

Quiz Games

• Make up easy identification quizzes featuring ocean animals for preschoolers. Divide participants into groups of three or four. Set up an easel for displaying large pictures of ocean animals and plants, such as dolphins, whales, fish, seagulls, starfish and seaweed. The team that correctly identifies the animal or plant first and then identifies the most animals and plants correctly wins the game. Make sure the pictures are easy to see. Provide a short lesson on each animal before playing the game.
  
  

Balloon Animal Games

• Fill assorted color balloons with water and help the children draw fish faces on each balloon. Divide the class into two teams and play water balloon dodgeball. The team with the most players left by the game's end wins. Another option is to play relay games in which players hold the water balloons. The team that carries the water balloon safely to the end of the relay wins. Teams that drop balloons must start over with a new balloon.