Imagine walking into a classroom where the walls are decorated with colorful fish, sea creatures, and waves. An under the sea classroom theme can completely change your classroom space into a fun and creative environment.
This kind of setting can make all the difference in how students feel about learning. An engaging classroom helps students stay interested, focused, and happy to learn. When students feel comfortable in their surroundings, it’s easier for them to concentrate and enjoy what they’re learning.
The ocean theme can bring a sense of calm and creativity to the room, inspiring students.
In this blog, you’ll find simple and fun ideas to help transform your classroom into an underwater dream, which will energize your students and make them eager to learn!
Why an Under the Sea Theme?
An under the sea themed classroom helps kids feel calm and happy. The blue and green colors remind children of peaceful ocean waves and can help them feel less stressed when they’re learning. When students walk into a room with ocean pictures, sea animals, and water decorations, they often get excited about what they might learn.
The ocean is full of interesting creatures like dolphins, sharks, and colorful fish that kids love to learn about. Even the sound of ocean waves playing softly can make the classroom feel special.
Teachers can use the ocean theme to teach many different subjects. During art, children can make colorful fish or ocean scenes. Math becomes more fun when counting seashells. The great thing about an ocean theme is that it works all year long and also teaches children important lessons about caring for our planet.
Many teachers find that students become more interested in science and nature after spending time in an ocean-themed classroom.
DIY Ocean-Themed Classroom Decor
Making your classroom look like an ocean is fun and creative! You can easily create cool decorations with simple materials. These DIY projects make the classroom look bright and fun, and they help make learning more interesting.
1. Jellyfish Ceiling Hangers
Make floating jellyfish using paper plates, tissue paper, and ribbon. Cut a paper plate in half for the jellyfish body. Paint it light blue or purple.
When dry, attach long strips of curled ribbon or streamers for tentacles. Hang from the ceiling with fishing line.
For a different look, you can also use clear plastic cups turned upside down with tissue paper strips glued inside.
2. Ocean Wall Murals
Create an ocean scene on bulletin board paper. Start with a blue background. Add darker blue at the bottom for the deep ocean and lighter blue at the top for shallow water.
Cut out fish, seaweed, and coral from colored paper. Students can help by making their own sea creatures to add. Use cotton balls for bubbles.
Attach everything to your background and hang it on the wall.
3. Printable Ocean Templates
Find free ocean-themed printables online. Print fish, whales, octopus, and other sea creatures on colored paper. Let students color and decorate them.
Cut them out and use them for bulletin boards or window displays. Make a “school of fish” display with student work. Create ocean-themed name tags or labels for student supplies using these templates.
These projects use simple materials you might already have. They’re perfect for adding ocean magic to your classroom without spending much money.
Students can help with many of these projects, making classroom decorating a fun group activity.
5. DIY Bubble Wall
Cut circles in different sizes from white paper or light blue tissue paper to make bubbles for your classroom walls. Stick the circles in groups that look like rising bubbles, with more at the bottom and fewer at the top.
Place them near your ocean animal displays to create the feeling that your sea creatures are swimming and blowing bubbles.
For a special touch, add some shiny plastic circles that catch the light or let students write ocean facts on some of the bubbles.
This simple decoration adds movement to your ocean-themed classroom and is quick to make with materials you probably already have.
6. DIY Turtle Tracks
Cut small oval shapes from brown or green construction paper to create turtle footprints. Make them about 3-4 inches long for a realistic size.
Cut each print with five small toe marks at one end. Create pairs of prints with the toe marks pointing slightly outward, just like real turtle tracks on a beach.
Place the prints in a pattern that shows the turtle’s path, with left and right footprints alternating. Stick the tracks to your classroom floor using removable tape so they won’t damage the surface.
Start the tracks at your classroom door and lead them to important areas like the reading corner or science center. You can also add small sand-colored paper around some of the tracks to look like the turtle walked through sand.
For extra fun, place a paper turtle cutout at the end of the trail to show where the turtle ended up.
7. DIY Shark Fin Headbands
Make simple shark fin headbands using gray construction paper and regular headbands. Cut out triangle shapes with a curved bottom from gray paper. These will be your shark fins. The fins should be about 4-6 inches tall for kids to wear comfortably.
Cut a small slit at the bottom of each fin where it will fold over the headband. Slide the fin onto a plain headband by putting the headband through the slit. Secure the fin with tape or glue if needed so it stands up straight.
For added fun, let students decorate their fins with markers to make unique shark species or add googly eyes to the sides.
These headbands are perfect for ocean-themed lessons, reading activities about sharks, or during science units about marine life.
8. DIY Octopus Pencil Holders
Create octopus pencil holders using empty toilet paper rolls as the base.
Cover each roll with blue, purple, or red construction paper. Cut long strips of colored paper for tentacles – make them wavy or curly by folding or curling the paper with scissors. Glue the tentacles to the inside bottom of the toilet paper roll so they hang down.
Draw or glue googly eyes near the top of the roll to give your octopus a face.
For more detail, cut small circles from white paper and glue them on the tentacles to look like suction cups.
Students can personalize their octopus pencil holders with markers, stickers, or glitter.
9. Fishing Game
Create a fun ocean-themed fishing game for your classroom using simple materials.
Cut out fish shapes from colorful construction paper in different sizes and colors. Attach a small paper clip to the mouth of each fish so it can be “caught.”
Make fishing rods using wooden dowels or sticks with string tied to one end. Attach a small magnet to the end of each string – this will connect with the paper clips on the fish.
Place all the fish in a “pond” made from blue paper or fabric on the floor. Students take turns using the magnetic rods to catch fish from the pond.
To make this educational, write numbers, sight words, math problems, or ocean facts on each fish. When students catch a fish, they must read the word, solve the problem, or share the fact with the class.
10. DIY Ocean Breeze Wind Chimes
Create beautiful ocean-themed wind chimes to add gentle sound and movement to your classroom.
Collect small seashells from craft stores or beach trips, along with blue and clear beads that look like water droplets.
Cut out small fish and starfish shapes from colorful cardstock. Punch a hole in each item for stringing. Take a small embroidery hoop or plastic lid as the top piece of your wind chime. Attach 5-6 pieces of fishing line or thin string to this base, spacing them evenly around the circle.
String your shells, beads, and paper sea creatures onto each line at different heights, knotting the string below each item to keep it in place.
Finish each strand with a special item like a larger shell or a bell for extra sound. Hang your completed wind chime near a window where it will catch classroom breezes.
11. Ocean-Themed Name Tags
For your students, create personalized name tags shaped like sea creatures. Cut out fish, starfish, or seashell shapes from colored cardstock.
Write each student’s name clearly on their sea creature. Add details like scales, dots, or ridges to make each tag special. Laminate the tags so they last all year.
Place these cute name tags on desks, cubbies, or lockers to help students find their spaces while adding to your ocean theme.
12. Seashell Wall Hooks
To organize your classroom, install wall hooks shaped like seashells. You can find seashell-shaped hooks at craft stores or home goods shops.
Mount them at student height along a wall near the door. Using small sea themed tags, label each hook with a student’s name.
Students can hang their backpacks, jackets, or projects on their special shell hook. This keeps the classroom tidy while reinforcing the underwater theme.
13. Ocean-Themed Classroom Welcome Sign
Make a large welcome sign that introduces visitors to your ocean classroom. Use blue poster board or foam board as the base.
Add a title like “Welcome to Our Ocean Classroom.” Decorate with paper cutouts of fish, seaweed, and bubbles. Use cotton balls for foam or waves.
Hang this colorful sign on your door or near the entrance to set the underwater mood right away.
14. Shark Mouth Storage Bins
Transform plain storage bins into exciting shark mouths that “eat” classroom supplies. Paint gray or blue bins with shark features.
Cut out white triangle teeth from paper and attach them around the opening of each bin. Add googly eyes above the opening.
Label each shark bin for different supplies like “Book Shark” or “Pencil Shark.” Students will enjoy putting materials into the shark’s “mouth” when cleaning up, making organization more fun.
15. Submarine Window View
Create a fun submarine porthole on your classroom wall. Cut a large circle from cardboard and paint it silver or gray to look like metal.
Cut a slightly smaller circle in the middle to make the window opening. Cover the opening with blue cellophane or tissue paper.
Attach the porthole to your wall using removable adhesive. Cut out paper fish, seaweed, and bubbles and stick them on the blue background.
Students will love looking through this “submarine window” into the sea.
16. Seaweed Curtain
Make easy seaweed curtains using green streamers or plastic tablecloths. Cut long strips of green paper or plastic, making the edges wavy like seaweed.
Attach the strips to a string or dowel rod with tape or staples. Hang these curtains from the ceiling to separate classroom areas like reading corners or workstations.
The strips will move slightly with air flow, creating a realistic underwater effect as students walk by.
17. Squid-Inspired Paper Lanterns
Turn simple paper lanterns into colorful squid decorations. Hang white or colored paper lanterns from your ceiling.
Cut 8-10 long strips of crepe paper or ribbon for each lantern to create tentacles. Attach these strips to the bottom of each lantern.
Add googly eyes to the sides of the lanterns to give your squid faces. These hanging squids add color and movement to your classroom while enhancing the ocean theme.
18. Fish Netting Over Bookshelves
Add fishing nets to your bookshelves for instant ocean style.
Buy inexpensive fishing nets from dollar stores or craft shops. Drape the nets over your bookshelves, letting them hang down slightly. Attach small plastic fish, shells, and starfish to the netting using paper clips or string.
This decoration not only looks great but also draws attention to your classroom library or display areas.
19. Aquarium Water Bottle
Create mini desk aquariums using empty water bottles that bring the ocean experience right to student desks.
Start with clean, clear plastic bottles with secure caps. Fill them about three-quarters full with water and add a few drops of blue food coloring to create that perfect sea hue.
To create a realistic underwater scene, add small plastic fish, tiny shells, and a pinch of fine sand or aquarium gravel.
Add a few clear marbles or blue glass beads to look like bubbles or sea glass. For extra sparkle, you can mix in a small amount of fine glitter that will slowly float and settle.
Seal the cap tightly with hot glue to prevent spills, and consider wrapping decorative tape around it for a finished look.
These mini aquariums make perfect desk decorations, science center displays, or even calming sensory bottles that students can gently tip to watch the contents move like ocean waves.
20. Shark Fin Paperclips
Take large metal paperclips and add triangles cut from gray construction paper to the top loop. Cut the triangles about 1-2 inches high with a slightly curved top for realistic shark fin shapes.
Fold the bottom part of each triangle so it slides onto and grips the paperclip securely. Use a black marker to draw a small eye on each side of the fin, or add a tiny dot of white paint for a gleaming shark eye.
For extra detail, you can add a few small lines to represent gills. When clipped to papers, these shark fins look like they’re swimming across the page. Create a whole “school” of shark paperclips in different sizes or colors for organizing different subjects or importance levels.
Students will enjoy using these fun clips to mark important pages in books or to organize their homework with ocean-themed flair.
21. Seashell Magnets
Collect small, flat seashells from craft stores or beach trips – scallop shells, sand dollars, and cockle shells work especially well.
Clean and dry them thoroughly before decorating. Paint the shells with acrylic paint in bright ocean colors like turquoise, coral, or purple, or leave some natural for a beachy look.
After the paint dries, add details with metallic paint pens or sprinkle with fine glitter while the paint is still wet for an underwater sparkle. For a natural look, leave some shells unpainted and simply seal them with clear Mod Podge for shine.
Once the decorations are completely dry, glue small disc magnets to the back of each shell using strong craft adhesive or hot glue. Create sets of matching shells for organizing information by color or theme.
These seashell magnets are perfect for hanging student work, important notices, or classroom job charts on magnetic boards, adding coastal charm to your ocean-themed classroom.
22. Fishbowl Light Shades
For ceiling lights, create colorful paper cylinders decorated with blue tissue paper waves and cut-out paper fish silhouettes. When the light shines through, it creates moving ocean patterns on the walls and ceiling.
For desk lamps, place clear plastic bowls decorated with blue cellophane and ocean stickers over the bulbs (making sure they don’t touch the hot bulb directly and using LED bulbs whenever possible for safety).
You can also create hanging light decorations by filling clear plastic ornament balls with blue tissue paper, small shells, and paper fish, then hanging them near windows where sunlight will filter through.
For a special touch, string small battery-operated LED lights inside larger clear containers filled with blue water beads and plastic sea creatures for a glowing nighttime ocean display.
23. Mermaid’s Mirror
Begin with a simple round or oval mirror and attach it to a piece of cardboard or foam board cut in the shape of a flowing mermaid tail.
The tail should extend below the mirror, creating the impression that the student’s face completes the mermaid image. To look like shimmering scales, cover the tail with overlapping circles of colored paper in blues, greens, purples, or pinks.
Add texture and sparkle by gluing on sequins, small shells, pearl beads, or glitter to make the scales catch the light. Decorate the area around the mirror with small starfish, shells, or strands of plastic pearls. Add flowing yarn or ribbon at the bottom of the tail to represent fins.
Use it during creative writing time when students imagine themselves as ocean creatures.
Under the Sea Classroom Decor
An “Under the Sea” classroom theme can make your classroom feel like an exciting ocean trip! With ocean colors, sea animals, and cool decorations, it makes learning fun. Students will feel like they’re in the deep sea every time they come to class.
Color Palette
Use soft ocean colors to set the mood. Light blue is perfect for shallow water. Use dark blue to show deep ocean parts. Add tan and beige for sand and beach areas. White works well for sea foam, clouds, or waves.
For a pop of color, add coral or green in small spots. Paint walls blue, or if painting isn’t allowed, use blue paper or fabric to cover spaces and add the ocean feel.
Add Popular Ocean Animals to Classrooms
Bring the sea to your classroom with ocean animals. Use colorful fish on bulletin board borders. Hang whales or dolphins from the ceiling.
Place sharks near reading spots to make them more fun. Put octopuses around learning areas or boards. Pick sea turtles as your class mascot. Add crabs and starfish for extra detail and fun.
Bulletin Boards
Start with a blue paper background. Use ocean-style borders with waves or fish. Add seaweed made from green paper to make it pop. Cotton balls can be used as bubbles.
Show off student work or ocean facts. Use fun titles like “Our School of Fish Rules” to tie it all together.
Borders and Trims
Give your room a neat look with ocean-themed borders. Use ones shaped like waves or full of sea animals. Wrap them around boards, shelves, or windows.
You can even hang a fishnet on the wall and clip on colorful paper fish to create an ocean scene.
Wall and Hanging Decorations
Hang sea animals from the ceiling using string or fishing line so they look like they’re swimming. Use jellyfish, fish, or turtles made from paper or plastic.
Create a wall that shows the layers of the ocean—from shallow to deep. Add soft lights to make the wall look like it’s underwater.
Functional Decor
Make your space both fun and useful. Label bins with sea creature names like “Shark Supplies” or “Turtle Tools.” Create a reading corner with sea-themed pillows. Cover the area with blue cloth to make it feel like being under the sea.
Turn your classroom door into an ocean entrance with fish and wave cutouts.
Conclusion
An under the sea themed classroom makes learning fun and creative. It helps students feel excited and inspired every day.
Under the Sea theme offers endless possibilities for decoration, learning activities, and even classroom organization.
With things like fish, waves, and sea creatures, the classroom becomes a place for imagination. These ideas will brighten up your room and make lessons memorable.
We hope these DIY projects give you some great ideas for your classroom. Try them out and make the space your own.
Read this blog and start creating your Under the Sea classroom today!
