Experiment with how wind causes ocean waves.
Investigative Question: What makes an ocean wave?
Materials: Plastic tub, Water, Fan, Small Plastic Cup (Optional – Blue Food Coloring to dye the water)
Step 1: Observe the water still in the plastic tub. Ask the children what they think causes ocean waves?
Step 2: Turn on the fan on low. Observe how the water changes by adding the fan.
Step 3: Turn the fan on high. What happens to the water? Add a small plastic cup to the water. What happens to the cup when the fan is turned on?
The Science Behind It: Wind causes ocean waves. The stronger the wind the larger the wave.
Give time for children to explore making waves with water play.
Record your observations about waves with an ocean watercolor painting.
Activity Extension: Ocean Wave Painting
Materials: Watercolor Paper, Watercolors, White Crayon, Paintbrush, Cookie Sheet, Painter’s Tape
Step 1: Use the painter’s tape to secure the paper to a cookie sheet or table surface.
Step 2: With white crayon draw ocean waves on your paper.
What types of lines create ocean waves?
Step 3: Paint over the white crayon with ocean colors.
Create more texture by sprinkling salt onto the wet watercolor. Let dry and brush off to create a textured ocean scene.
More STEAM Activity Extensions
Science Extension: Make a wave bottle.
Technology Extension: Build an ocean drum to recreate the sounds of the waves.
Engineering Extension: Can you build a LEGO house that can stand up against the waves in your container?
Art Extension: Look at the painting, The Great Wave off Kanagawa, c. 1829-32 by Katsushika Hokusai. Have you ever seen a wave that large? Draw a picture about the biggest wave you have ever seen.
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