You are invited to download the Parts of the Shark (featuring Greate White Shark) and Ovoviviparous Shark Life Cycle Pack – learning printables for preschool and kindergarten children. Use this resource with clear true-to-life images and photographs to create hands-on ocean-themed activities for your students.
about sharks
Children often express fascination with sharks and find them to be one of the most amazing creatures of the ocean. These marine animals have adapted to life in the water in their unique way. The shark life cycle is particularly peculiar and learning about all the different ways sharks procreate inspires children to dive deeper to explore these mysterious creatures.
Sharks are amazing creatures that live in the ocean. They are fish with a special skeleton made of cartilage, which makes them light and flexible. Sharks also have powerful muscles, sharp teeth, and excellent senses that help them hunt for food. There are over 500 species of sharks, including the great white shark, hammerhead shark, and bull shark. Despite their reputation as dangerous predators, sharks are important to the ocean ecosystem and should be treated with respect. You can learn more about these fascinating animals by visiting aquariums and reading books about them.
Sharks have a unique life cycle that starts when they hatch from eggs. Baby sharks, called pups, are usually born in oceans or rivers and are fully independent from their mothers from the moment they are born. As they grow, they will move into shallower waters and hunt for their own food. Female sharks will typically reach maturity at around 10-15 years of age and will lay eggs in a protected area. Some sharks give birth to live, fully-formed young. Sharks can live for many years and some species can live up to 70 years!
shark hands-on activities
- Shark Tooth Matching Game: Gather a collection of shark teeth (either real or replica) and create a matching game for children to match the tooth to the corresponding shark species.
- Shark Anatomy Puzzle: Create a wooden puzzle of a shark’s anatomy (including organs, muscles, and bones) for children to assemble and learn about the internal structure of a shark.
- Shark Visual Discrimination Activity: Provide children with pictures of different types of sharks and ask them to identify the similarities and differences between each species.
- Shark Classification Activity: Provide children with a variety of different sharks and ask them to classify them according to their characteristics, such as body shape, fin size, and teeth.
- Shark Habitat Sorting Game: Create a game where children match different types of sharks to their respective habitats, such as deep sea, coral reef, or shallow waters.
- Shark Migration Map: Create a map that shows the migration patterns of different shark species and ask children to identify the reasons why sharks migrate.
- Shark Teeth Cleaning Experiment: Set up an experiment where children can clean and study shark teeth using different cleaning methods, such as vinegar, baking soda, or toothpaste.
- Shark Food Chain Activity: Create a food chain activity where children can learn about the different prey and predators involved in a shark’s diet.
- Shark Life Cycle Worksheet: Provide children with a worksheet that illustrates the different stages of a shark’s life cycle and ask them to fill it in and label each stage.
- Shark Sensory Bin: Create a sensory bin filled with different objects related to sharks, such as seashells, faux shark teeth, fossils, and sandpaper for children to explore and manipulate.
shark pack
Children will learn the stages of the ovoviviparous shark life cycle, and parts of the shark, practice sequencing skills and work to improve their concentration and fine motor skills.
This resource contains an ovoviviparous shark life cycle poster, worksheet, 3-part cards, and parts of the great white shark printable.
Here is what’s included:
- Great White Shark life cycle diagram
- Great White Shark life cycle 3 part cards
- Great White Shark life cycle coloring, cutting, and pasting worksheet (color and blackline)
- Great White Shark life cycle tracing strips
- Great White Shark life cycle information cards
- Parts of a Great White Shark diagram
- Parts of a Great White Shark diagram minus labels
- Parts of a Great White Shark labels
- Parts of a Great White Shark information cards
- Parts of a Great White Shark tracing & independent writing worksheet
- Parts of a Great White Shark student booklet (independent writing)
- Species of Sharks 3 part cards
- Species of Sharks information cards
- Great White Shark characteristics color poster
- Great White Shark characteristics black line poster
- Great White Shark characteristics mat
- Great White Shark characteristics color cards
- Great White Shark characteristics tracing & coloring student booklet
- Great White Shark characteristics student booklet
- Shark information poster
- My Book of Sharks
- Shark Food vs Preditors sorting cards
- Shark anatomy diagram adjective activity
Age: Preschool ages 3 – 6 years
Subjects and uses in the classroom: Ocean biome, Fish, Nature Table, Science Centers, Fine motor, Prewriting
How to use this resource:
Parts of the shark – Gather books on sharks for children to explore. Print posters and label cards on cardstock and laminate. Cut individual label cards. Attach clear velcro to the poster without labels and label cards.
Present the poster – name all parts and invite the students to share their thoughts on the various functions of each part. Then read each label and invite the student to match it to the corresponding part of the great white shark’s body.
Life cycle poster – print on cardstock and laminate. Present all stages of the shark life cycle. Invite the children to retell them or tell their own story that features all the stages.
Shark life cycle 3- part cards – Print on cardstock and laminate if you wish to preserve colors and card quality for future use. Place picture cards in a column and invite the children to match the picture to the picture and the word to the word.
Shark life cycle line art – supply scissors, glue, and coloring pencils. Invite the student to color and cut cards and glue them into the correct sequence.
Shark tracing/labeling and coloring worksheets – print on cardstock and laminate. Supply an erasable pen. Invite the child to trace the words and color corresponding images. Alternatively, print pages on regular printing paper and invite the child to trace or label parts of the shark and shark life cycle.
You might like to invite the students to compare the life cycle of the shark with other animals that are a part of the vertebrate group.
Children’s Books and Resources for Learning about the Ocean
The Ocean Biome Pack
Introduction study of the ocean that contains hands-on resources to teach students about unique aspects of the largest biome on Earth while developing their concentration, logical thinking, comprehension skills, reading and so much more.
All resources are designed to adapt to each individual student and fit your classroom needs. Students will learn about the main characteristics of the ocean, types of oceans, marine life, and their adaptations, and receive a general introduction.
This list of resources is a great addition to your geography shelves and science display area.
Here is what’s included:
- Characteristics of the ocean biome reading cards
- Layers of the ocean – sorting cards, 3-part cards, information cards, blackline master
- Animals of the ocean – sorting cards and 3-part cards
- Animal and plant adaptations and research forms – reading activity
- Oceans of the world – 3-part cards, information cards, blackline master
- Water-dwellings vs water transportation – sorting cards
- Parts of an Orca – 3-part cards, poster, blackline master (cursive and print)
PURCHASE ocean biome pack here
Please note: This printable is included in the Nature Curriculum in Cards Bundle.
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