Materials
Swimmy by Leo Lionni
construction paper
markers
scissors
old sheet
glue
green paint
sponges
2 rolls of blue crepe paper
tape
poster board
paint and paintbrushes
Instructions
1. Talk about how fish survive in the ocean. Read the story Swimmy by Leo
Lionni. Then, work with the children to create an under-the-ocean
environment in your Dramatic Play area.
2. Pre-draw or help the children draw fish and undersea life on construction
paper with markers. Cut out the fish and glue them to an old sheet.
3. Encourage the children to dip sponges into green paint and stamp around the
sea creatures on the sheet. This helps to give the illusion of underwater
plants. When the sheet is dry, drape it over a play kitchen set to create a
coral reef effect.
4. While the children are working on the coral reef, hang strips of blue crepe
paper from the ceiling to the floor around the coral reef area and Dramatic
Play area. Explain that this is the ocean.
5. The last step is for the children to create the giant ocean creatures from the
story Swimmy. Draw giant ocean creatures on the poster board (one to a
poster). Encourage the children to paint in teams.
6. When they are dry, cut them out and put them in the Dramatic Play area.
7. It's a good idea to cut out several smaller fish, so the children can use these
with the "giant" ocean creatures to act out the story of Swimmy. Show them
how they can "swim" in and out of the blue crepe paper with their fish.
