The school year can be crazy so we are here to help with Under the Sea lesson plans, crafted by the talented Keisha Casiano and Jennifer Hamilton. These lessons are designed to make art instruction simple and enjoyable, and they’re perfect for incorporating into an Art to Remember program and your school’s art show.
With lessons for K-12, you can work on the art throughout the school year, hold on to them for your art show, and you’ll be ready to go.
Imagine your students creating colorful, water-themed masterpieces that are as delightful as they are creative. From painted paper collages to sea shell art, our Under the Sea lesson plans are designed to inspire and engage young artists. Each project is packed with fun and easy steps that make creating art a blast for kids of all ages.
Kindergarten
Students will explore texture, pattern, and expressive color through a layered mixed media artwork. Inspired by the bright seashell illustrations of artist Lee-Foster Wilson, students will create bubble wrap ocean backgrounds, textured sand using cardboard painting techniques, and vibrant neon shells. Their final piece will include seaweed, coral, and a character-filled seashell that reflects their creativity.
Kindergarten
Students will create a realistic turtle swimming under the sea. The drawing will include patterns on the shell. When students are coloring their shells they will color using a rainbow pattern. Students will use multiple mediums for a wax resist style of painting.
1st Grade
Students will explore the layers and movement of the ocean using painted paper, bright colors, and simple shapes. This project focuses on color blending, collage, and environmental awareness. Students will build a mixed media seascape in layers, beginning with the sky and water, and adding coral, seaweed, and vibrant fish. The final artwork highlights the ocean’s beauty and inspires students to think about why keeping our oceans clean and colorful is important.
2nd Grade
Students will create a mixed media self-portrait of themselves as scuba divers exploring the ocean. Through reading, painting, and collage, they will explore the ocean’s beauty and how we can care for it. This lesson combines storytelling, self-identity, and environmental awareness using a wide variety of colors, textures, and creative choices. This inspiring book tells the story of Eugenie Clark, a scientist who broke boundaries and explored the world of sharks. This read-aloud helps spark student curiosity about ocean life and the importance of protecting our oceans.
3rd Grade
In this lesson, students will learn about how scientists use submarines to explore the deep ocean. They will create a layered mixed media collage that includes an ocean background, painted seaweed and coral, a paper submarine, and creative ocean fish. This project introduces students to both marine science and art techniques like painted paper, cutting organic shapes, and layering.
4th Grade
Students will create a layered underwater artwork by using oil pastels, watercolor resist, and detailed coral reef borders. Through drawing, painting, and optional research, students will explore ocean life and their chosen marine animal or scuba diver. This lesson combines art techniques, creative expression, and environmental awareness into a dynamic, border-framed ocean scene.
Middle School
Students will learn and discuss the art and art style of the artist Keith Haring. The students will discuss the Pop Art style and Keith Haring’s importance to the art movement and involvement with art for political and social causes. The students will create a Pop Art Keith Haring inspired drawing that emphasizes a current issue regarding oceans and the environment.
Middle School
Students will learn about oceans and the threat to the ocean floor as it pertains to coral reefs. Students will discuss how pollution is causing coral reefs to be endangered and what society and politically we can do to help the oceans. Students will draw a silhouette of a coral reef and include several marine life animals. The students will explore design and pattern through zentangle drawing for the background of their ocean. Finally, students will experiment with watercolor painting techniques to paint their paper cool tones to represent the ocean.
Middle School / High School
Students will learn about the art and artist M.C. Escher in small groups and share out information to the whole class. Students will select an ocean fish to draw and recreate in a linocut. The students will understand, describe, and identify all steps to lino cutting and creating a lino print. Students will be able to critique and receive feedback on their artwork and revise and edit as needed.
Middle School / High School
The students will be able to identify foreground, middle ground, and background elements in a composition. Students will be able to draw an ocean themed illustration that highlights the foreground, middle ground, and background. The students will be able to create a torn multi-layered collage using paper that illustrates the concepts of space in a composition. Students will be able to receive feedback about their work and edit/refine their work to finish their collage.
We have so many lessons to choose from. Explore Floating Donuts, Artsy Otters, and more.
Ship your students’ artwork to us (we pay for shipping), we’ll scan it, send the art back to you, and parents can purchase products customized with the art. We’ll even create a file of custom art show labels, so you can label the art and parents can scan a QR code to shop while they look around. Oh, and all of that is free! Love this idea? Fill out the form below and we’ll send you more information about the fundraiser.
