I created an investigation box that will allow students to explore the different levels of the sea and the animals that make up the sea. Also, the students will be engaged in a float or sink activity of a boat in the sea. There is potential for several investigations in this box, but I am going to focus in on one called- Sink The Boat. This investigation box is intended to be for kindergerten.
Materials in the box:
These fake sea animals can be used as visuals when the students are learning about each individual animal. Also, the students will be able to examine the animals close up and see what they look like, rather than just hearing about what they look like. The students are able to touch the animals and feel where a ridge may be on a sea animal.
Sand and beach stones will be in the investigation box so that students are able to see/feel components that make up the sea. Some students may have never been to the ocean, so it is important to provide concrete objects for the students.
Seaweed would be beneficial to put into the investigation box but it would have to be fake or preserved in water. It would be effective to show students a quick clip of how seaweed sits under the sea.
Sea shells and hermit crab shells are used as another visual for students. Exploring with sea shells could spark their curiosity.
The investigation:
Students may have to work in groups or in pairs for this investigation. The tub/container should be a little over halfway full of water. To make this investigation more interesting, there could be sand, sand stones, and sea shells at the bottom of the container of water. Students should put their boat in the water, and notice that it floats. The goal is to sink the ship-so there will be a variety of materials in the investigation box to use to try and weigh down the ship to eventually sink the ship. Materials the students should use to try and weigh the boat down are the following:
paper clips
pennies
balls of play dough
Once the students have put all 3 objects on the boat, they will determine which one weighed the boat down the most. It is important that students understand that you can waterlog the ship by tipping it over and filling it with water. During the activity, students can predict why the boat sinks when it tips over. The teacher will explain that air inside the ship helps the boat float, but when it tips over, the air escapes and water fills that space. Which causes the the boat to sink.
Books for Down by the Sea:
Who Sank the Boat?
By: Pamela Allen
This book is included in the investigation box because it relates similarly to the investigation. A few animals are in a boat and they sink it. The animals are using the problem sovling skills to determine how the boat sank.
A House for Hermit Crab
By: Eric Carle
This book is based on the true behaviors of the hermit crab. Students will learn behaviors of a hermit crab. Also, students will empathize
with Hermit Crab as he grows out of one house after another and searches for the
perfect home. Children who must change schools or move to a new town will relate to Hermit Crab’s situation and
take heart as they see that growing up isn’t really so scary after all.
Swimmy
By: Leo Lionni
This book is about a happy school of little fish. Throughout the book, Swimmy (a fish) goes through several obstacles in the sea. This book shows what life is like under the sea and will help students understand life under the sea.
Simon and Schuster Children's Guide to Sea Creatures
By: Jinny Johnson
This reference book
offers great photos and in-depth focus spreads that
bring intriguing facts to light. Children can go to this book whenever they want to learn even more about a specific sea creature/animal.
Extensions:
Boat Float
This activity can be done at home with an adult. The child can make boats out of different materials, such as toothpicks, cork, paper, craft sticks, fabric, and clay. The child will make predictions about which boat will sink or float and write them down. Then have the child try out their boats in a bathtub. Which boat floats? Which boat sinks? Do any boats float for a while, and then sink? Encourage the child to explain what happened. Then have him or her think of ways to make a sinking boat float and vice versa. Allow the child to experiment using different shapes and adding weight to the boats.
How is Sand Made?
Beach Stones:
Collect a variety of smooth beach stones. Add them to the sensory table and allow the children to sort them according to size or color or make designs in table. This could also be done with sea shells or hermit crab shells. 
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