These ocean zones sensory bottles go from light blue to dark blue, just like the ocean gets darker the deeper you go.
Kids sort sea animals into the zone where they live. My kids had a ton of questions, which is the best part.
How to Make Ocean Zones Sensory Bottles
Ocean Animal Studies Bundle
Get the printable3 clear plastic bottles
Water and blue food coloring
Light to dark blue cardstock strips
Glue stick, scissors and super glue
Small plastic ocean animals
Fill the bottles
Fill each bottle with water and add blue coloring so they go from very light to very dark.
Seal them
Glue the caps on so kids can’t open them.
Make the zone chart
Glue paper strips together from lightest to darkest blue.
Set up
Stand each bottle on its matching zone.
Sort the animals
Place each ocean animal in the zone where it lives.
The Ocean Zones
- Sunlight zone (top 200 m): Sunlight reaches here. Humpback whales, sea turtles, dolphins, stingrays and hammerhead sharks.
- Twilight zone (200 to 1,000 m): Dim light. Lanternfish, hatchetfish, swordfish and many squid.
- Midnight zone (1,000 to 4,000 m): No sunlight at all. Anglerfish, viperfish, black swallowers and dragonfish.
- Abyss and trenches: The deepest, coldest parts. Add darker bottles with a drop of green or red to get them dark enough.
Ask: How do animals find food without light? Why do some deep sea animals glow?
More ocean activities
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Learn more about sea life with our ocean yoga cards.
The ocean animal studies include
- Printable studies for ten ocean animals
- Instant PDF download, nothing is shipped
Perfect for
- Ocean units
- Preschool through 2nd grade
- Science centers
Ocean Zones FAQ
The sunlight, twilight and midnight zones, plus the abyss and the trenches at the very bottom.
Whales, dolphins, sea turtles, stingrays and many sharks.
Anglerfish, viperfish and other deep sea fish, many of which make their own light.
About 4 to 9.
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From families like yours
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