Whether you are planning an under-the-sea theme or just enjoy teaching your kids about water, these ocean songs for preschoolers will be a hit.
Songs and rhymes are an excellent way to practise speech/language skills and counting, along with learning fun facts about animals.
Here are eight of the best preschool ocean songs, action rhymes and fingerplays, from old favourites to newer selections.
So, get out your oars, fishing poles, and binoculars, as you check out the following options:
1. Row, Row, Row Your Boat
(Classic)
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the stream
Merrily, merrily, merrily, merrily
Life is but a dream.
(Newer)
Row, row, row your boat
Gently up the creek.
If you see a crocodile
Don’t forget to shriek!
Row, row, row your boat
Gently down the river.
If you see a polar bear
Don’t forget to shiver!
Row, row, row your boat
Gently to the shore.
If you see a lion there
Don’t forget to roar!
2. One, Two, Three, Four, Five, Once I Caught a Fish Alive
One, Two, Three, Four, Five,
Once I caught a fish alive,
Six, Seven, Eight, Nine, Ten,
Then I threw him back again.
Why did you let him go?
Because he bit my finger so.
Which finger did he bite?
This little finger on my right.
3. Baby Shark
Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Baby shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Baby shark
Mommy shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Mommy shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Mommy shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Mommy shark
Daddy shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Daddy shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Daddy shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Daddy shark
Grandma shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Grandma shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Grandma shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Grandma shark
Grandpa shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Grandpa shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Grandpa shark, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Grandpa shark
Let’s go hunt, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Let’s go hunt, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Let’s go hunt, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Let’s go hunt
Run away, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Run away, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Run away, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Run away
Safe at last, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Safe at last, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Safe at last, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
Safe at last
It’s the end, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
It’s the end, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
It’s the end, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo, doo
It’s the end.
4. A Sailor Went to Sea, Sea, Sea
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what she could see, see, see
But all that she could see, see, see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what she could see, see, see
But all that she could see, see, see
Was a baby shark in the deep blue sea
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what she could see, see, see
But all that she could see, see, see
Was an octopus in the deep blue sea
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what she could see, see, see
But all that she could see, see, see
Was a jellyfish in the deep blue sea
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what she could see, see, see
But all that she could see, see, see
Was a turtle in the deep blue sea
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what she could see, see, see
But all that she could see, see, see
Was a dolphin in the deep blue sea
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what she could see, see, see
But all that she could see, see, see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what she could see, see, see
But all that she could see, see, see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea
5. Five Little Fish
Five little fish swimming in a pool.
The first one said,
This pool is cool.
The second one said,
This pool is deep.
The third one said,
I’d like to sleep.
The fourth one said,
I’ll dive and dip.
The fifth one said,
Here comes a ship.
The fishing boat comes; the net goes splash!
All the little fish swim away in a flash.
All the little fish swim away in a flash!
6. Animals in the Ocean
The sharks in the ocean go chomp, chomp, chomp,
Chomp, chomp, chomp,
Chomp, chomp, chomp.
The sharks in the ocean go chomp, chomp, chomp
All day long…
The turtles on the ocean go snap, snap, snap,
Snap, snap, snap,
Snap, snap, snap.
The turtles in the ocean go snap, snap, snap.
All day long…
The crabs in the ocean go click, click, click,
Click, click, click,
Click, click, click.
The crabs in the ocean go click, click, click,
All day long…
The jellyfish in the ocean go wibble, wobble, wibble,
Wibble, wobble, wibble,
Wibble, wobble, wibble.
The jellyfish in the ocean go wibble, wobble, wibble,
All day long …
The clams in the ocean go open and shut,
Open and shut, Open and shut.
The clams in the ocean go open and shut
All day long…
The seahorse in the ocean rocks back and forth,
Back and forth,
Back and forth.
The seahorse in the ocean rocks back and forth,
All day long.
Here are some more fun animal songs for preschoolers.
7. Mr. Jellyfish (fingerplay)
Five little plankton swimming in the sea.
Teasing Mr. Jellyfish, “Can’t catch me!”
Along comes Mr. Jellyfish, quiet as can be.
ZAP!
Four little plankton swimming in the sea…
Continue the rhyme counting down to the last plankton (3 little plankton, 2 little, etc.)
The last verse would go as follows:
One little plankton swimming in the sea.
Teasing Mr. Jellyfish, “Can’t catch me!”
Along comes Mr. Jellyfish, quiet as can be.
ZAP!
Watch out for jellyfish floating in the sea!
Here are the hand motions:
1st line–hold up hand and wiggle fingers – use one less finger for each verse.
2nd line–point finger when saying “can’t catch me.”
3rd line– put hand together, fingers down, wiggle fingers.
4th line — Clap loudly.
5th line–hold up hand with one less finger.
[source]
8. Whale (fingerplay)
A whale is not as small as us (shake head and finger)
Most whales are bigger than a bus (stretch arms out wide)
A whale is not a fish in the sea (shake head and finger)
A whale breathes air like you and me (take a deep breath)
A whale can’t walk upon the ground (shake head and finger)
A whale must swim to get around (make a swimming motion)
A whale is a mammal like you and me (nod head and point to self and others)
But his home is in the deep blue sea (make wave motion)
[source]
I hope you’ve enjoyed these fun songs about the ocean and sea creatures.
Here are more fun ocean activities for preschoolers, as well as some great fingerplays to teach your kids.
Need ideas for your next theme? Check out this list of preschool themes.
