Fun Under the Sea Classroom Theme Ideas & Ocean Decor
If you want to create an under the sea classroom theme this year, then you’ve come to the right place. I’ve gathered the very best ideas for you including how to decorate your ceiling and walls to make your students feel like they are learning in the ocean. Plus, I’ve gathered some fun activities for your class that match the theme too!
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Under the Sea Classroom Theme for Teachers
I had a ton of fun gathering creative ideas for you in this post. Here is what you’ll find:
- What to add to your ceiling to make your students feel like they are in the ocean.
- Tons of fun bulletin board ideas including DIY ideas and easy options too.
- Under the sea classroom ideas for door decorations that your students will love!
- Where to get the very best ocean themed decorations for your classroom.
- Printable classroom decor bundles that will help you easily incorporate the theme throughout your learning space.
- Fun craft activities and interactive activities like sensory bins that match your theme.
- How to create a giant octopus for your classroom, it’s easier than you think!
Read on to check out all of these great ideas and more to really bring your theme to life this year!
Under the Sea Classroom Ceiling Decor
Let’s start with some fun ways to bring this theme to life in your classroom by decorating your ceiling. To make your students feel like they are in the sea you can add seaweed, marine life, nets and more to the ceiling. I want to show you some inspiration from other classrooms and then I’ll also show you some ideas to create the same effect in your classroom!
DIY Under the Sea Ceiling Idea
Creating this effect in your classroom is easier than it seems. Start with blue plastic tablecloths from the Dollar Tree or you can find the disposable table covers on Amazon here.
Then create silhouettes of sea creatures like turtles and fish from black construction paper. Then simple drape the tablecloths on the ceiling under your florescent lights and add the silhouettes on top of the tablecloths for this stunning effect!
Jellyfish Hanging in the Classroom
Jelly fish hanging from the ceiling are a fun way to bring this theme to life. You could make jelly fish with construction paper and streamers or you can purchase jellyfish lanterns. Below check out my favorites from Amazon.
Hanging Jellyfish Lanterns
These jellyfish paper lanterns come in a variety of different colors so you’re sure to find the right one to match your classroom color scheme. These come in a pack of 6 and you can find them here.
Sea Turtle Pool Floatie Classroom Decor
If you want to add some marine life to your ceiling decor consider adding pool inflatables! You can hit up the Dollar Tree, or after summer clearance sales to get deals. The turtle inflatable pool float pictured can be found here.
Under the Sea Bubbles
If you look closely in this picture, you’ll see that bubbles are hanging from the ceiling! Read on to see where to get bubble garlands for your classroom.
Bubble Decorations for the Classroom
A fun way to make your classroom seem underwater is to hang bubble garlands from the ceiling.
Fishing Nets for Your Classroom Ceiling
This amazing classroom has a lot of decor inspiration. I love the idea of hanging nets from the ceiling to give those under water vibes. Check out where to get those below.
Fishing Net Wall Hangings
I especially love these fishing net decorations because they have sea shells in them! They come in a bunch of different colors too.
DIY Ocean Decorations
There are so many creative ideas that you can copy from this class to create your own ocean paradise! You can get crafty to create colorful coral reef. Use clear balloons to make bubbles and green streamers to create seaweed.
Blue foil streamers representing water are used to decorate the wall. Read on to discover how to create this effect in your classroom.
Blue Water Foil Curtain
A blue foil wavy curtain could have a few different uses in your under the sea classroom. You could add it to a blank wall to look like ocean waves.
Another idea is to use it as a curtain to separate a learning space that your students will have to walk through. For example you could have students walk through the waves to get to a reading nook!
Tropical Fish Hanging Swirls
A fun way to turn your classroom into an ocean is to hang sea horses, starfish, blowfish, whales and other ocean animals from the ceiling. This is a 30 piece decor pack that you can find here.
Seaweed Streamers Ceiling Decor
Here’s an easy way to create seaweed that you can hang from your classroom ceiling to give that under the water feel! You can find some blue and green crepe paper here to pull this off.
Ocean Wave Streamer Idea
I wanted to show you another streamer option to make your ceiling look like ocean waves! Here’s where you can find a pack of blue and white crepe paper to create this look.
Ocean Themed Classroom Bulletin Board
Now let’s check out some creative under the sea themed bulletin boards for your classroom. I’ve included some ideas for you to make if you like a DIY project and other printable options that are super easy to create.
In Our Class We all Swim Together
This quote will help build that sense of classroom community. Add a fish net and then have students watercolor various sea animals to finish off this pretty bulletin board.
Starfish For Star Students Bulletin Board
Copy this idea for a classroom incentive bulletin board idea and let the class earn star fish for good behavior. When the class has earned ten starfish they earn a class reward like a slime party, popcorn and a movie or an ice-cream party!
This giant octopus can be created with construction paper. Have students help make paper links for the octopus’ tentacles!
Rainbow Fish Bulletin Board Idea
Copy this positive bulletin board idea with sparkle fish. With bulletin board letters you can spell out, “We may all be different but in this class we swim together.” You could have students color their own rainbow fish to help decorate this display or check out a craft idea that I have later in this post.
Dive Into Class Bulletin Board
Here’s a cute printable ocean themed bulletin board kit that you can use for your classroom door too!
Dive into Learning Bulletin Board Kit
Here’s the perfect back to school bulletin board for your ocean-themed classroom. You can find this printable classroom decor kit on Etsy here.
Best Finds for Under the Sea Bulletin Board Decor
Check out my favorite bulletin board decorations from Amazon to easily create ocean displays for your class.
Ocean Bulletin Board Paper
Here’s an easy way to get started on your under the sea display just roll out this bulletin board paper and it looks exactly like the ocean!
Ocean Bulletin Board Borders
This set of ocean trim would help to add colorful fish, coral and bubbles to your displays.
Under the Sea Classroom Door
Welcome your students as soon as they get to school with an underwater themed classroom door. Check out some inspiration to create an amazing classroom door for your students below.
Submarine Classroom Door
Copy this idea and create a submarine door with construction paper. For a fun detail cut out a port hole in the paper, and be sure to add some paper seaweed around the door too!
An Ocean of Friends
Copy this positive ocean themed door idea and add fish, whales, crabs and other sea life to your classroom door. You can create a large octopus on top of the door too!
Elementary School Hallway Inspiration
Here’s your sign to carry your ocean theme into your entire school hallway as well! This works especially well if your fellow elementary teacher have the same theme!
Snorkeling Classroom Door
Have students help decorate your classroom door with this creative art assignment. First they’ll decorate an ocean background. Next they will add their pictures and then snorkeling gear. Finally have them finish a writing prompt like If I were a sea creature for a day I woud…
Happy to Sea You Classroom Door
Add adorable sea life like a shark, sting ray, and fish with the phrase “Happy to sea you” to decorate your classroom door. You can add some seaweed, coral and bubble too.
Under the Sea Classroom Library Ideas
Next let’s check out some ideas to bring your ocean theme into your classroom library as well. That way your students can curl up with a good book about the ocean feeling as they are surrounded by it!
Under the Sea Reading Corner
You can create a giant shark with construction paper to help decorate your reading corner to match your ocean themed classroom.
Ocean Themed Reading Nook
Choose ocean themed books to encourage your students to explore the fascinating world of the deep ocean and learn more about the sea creatures that live there!
Creative Under the Sea Classroom Theme Ideas
If you’re looking for some unique under the sea classroom theme ideas that will really wow your students, then read on. I’ll show you how to create a giant octopus, turn your windows into aquariums, and even an idea for an ocean themed kindness activity!
Giant Octopus in Classroom Corner
Earlier in this post I showed you how to create a large octopus with paper chains. This is the same idea but with larger paper to create an enormous octopus that would be the focal point of your classroom decor!
Aquarium Window Decor
Here’s a creative idea for your ocean themed classroom. Use blue cellophane and fish made out of black construction paper to transform your windows into aquariums!
Catching Compliments
To help build your classroom community create this catching compliments display. Start with a net and an ocean background. Then add paper cups with your students’ names on them.
Have students randomly draw names to see who they will leave a compliment for. You could even copy this idea with marine life themed paper cups like these!
Under the Sea Classroom Activities
If you want some fun activities to match your theme, then I have a few ideas for you. Some of these craft activities you can use to decorate your classroom too!
Clean up the Ocean Sensory Bin
This is an amazing sensory activity that teaches students about the importance of keeping our earth clean. In the sensory bin add sea creatures as well as trash, food, and materials that can by recycled.
Have students sort the items into trash, recycle and compost and keep the items in the bin that belong in the ocean. Discuss with students what things belong in the ocean and what doesn’t and why its important to keep our oceans clean.
Rainbow Fish Craft Activity
Here’s the perfect art activity to go with your ocean theme. First read your young students the book, rainbow fish to teach them how sharing brings happiness to themselves and others. Than have students create their own rainbow fish by decorating colorful scales and adding them to a blue fish.
Beach and Ocean Sensory Bins
Ocean themed sensory bins would be a great addition to a preschool or kindergarten classroom. This ocean sensory bin was created with water and food coloring while the beach sensory bin was created with sand.
Under the Sea Art Activity
Here’s a fun art activity that you could use to decorate your under the sea classroom!
Shark Art Activity
Would your students love this fun classroom shark activity? First have students create the ocean background and then add sharks made out of newspaper.
Last have them create bubbles with round brushes. You could use this art project to decorate a bulletin board in your classroom!
Under the Sea Classroom Decorations
Now let’s check out my favorite sea classroom decorations and where you can get them.
Sea Creature Classroom Decor
You could use these adorable ocean animal cutouts to decorate your bulletin boards, classroom door or a blank wall in your classroom.
Ocean Themed Name Desk Toppers
This is a variety pack of 32 desk topper name plates that would be a perfect addition to your theme.
Under the Sea Alphabet Letters and Number Cards
To add to your theme, you can display these under the sea ABC posters and number line signs around the top of your classroom walls.
Ocean Wall Decals
Add these underwater stickers to the walls in your classroom to enhance your theme.
Under the Sea Theme Hall Passes
This set of 10 hall passes would go perfectly with your ocean theme.
Ocean Animal Color Posters
These cute color posters would be a great way to decorate a preschool bulletin board. These are printable posters that you can find on Etsy here.
Under the Sea Ocean Theme Classroom Decor Bundle
If you want an easy an inexpensive way to create an entire ocean room transformation, then a printable classroom decor bundle is a great way to go. Check out my favorite ocean themed printable bundles from Etsy below.
Ocean Decor Classroom Bundle
This ocean classroom theme bundle works well with a blue and neutral color scheme which works well if you want to create a calming learning environment. This bundle is a digital download that you print yourself. Here’s what’s included in this bundle:
- Learning Posters including Alphabet and Shape Posters
- A Word Wall Display
- Number Charts
- Classroom Calendar and Daily Schedule Cards
- Different Options for Desk Name Plates
- Classroom Labels including Rolling Cart Labels, Teacher Toolbox Labels and Teacher Binder Covers
- Meet the Teacher and Classroom Newsletter Template and so much more!
Blue and Teal Ocean Decor Bundle
I wanted to show you this ocean bundle for those who love vibrant colors like bright blue, teal, pink and purple too! These printable include colorful posters, labels, and décor featuring playful dolphins, majestic whales, and colorful coral reefs! This is a bundle you download that is an editable PowerPoint file and it includes:
- A complete themed room transformation kit
- Welcome Signs
- Number Cards
- Alphabet Posters
- Classroom Job Chart
- Affirmation Station Cards
- Amazing Work Coming Soon Posters
- Back to School and Open House Kits and more!
Modern Under the Sea Classroom Decor Bundle
If you want to add soft colors to your room like ocean blues paired with sandy neutral tones then this is the bundle for you. This huge printable decoration package includes the following:
- Binder Covers and Table Labels
- Birthday Charts
- Bunting and Banners
- Classroom Rules Posters
- Color Cards
- Door Display
- Classroom Management Printables
- Flip Calendar
- Motivational Posters and more!
I hope you found some new under the sea classroom theme ideas to try this year! Feel free to save your favorite ideas to your Pinterest boards. To do that just click on the picture and then the P and choose your board.
If you like this post, you may also enjoy-
The Best Classroom Themes for a Fun School Year
55 Best Classroom Decoration Ideas for Teachers
23 Unique Bulletin Board Ideas to Try This Year