Do you study the ocean with your preschoolers? Preschoolers love studying the ocean because it’s a magical, mysterious world filled with fascinating creatures and vibrant colors. From playful dolphins and graceful sea turtles to quirky crabs and glowing jellyfish, the ocean sparks their natural curiosity and sense of wonder. We have a fun Ocean Zones Sorting Activity that is perfect to add to your ocean unit. Be sure to grab in in our store, and keep reading for more details!

What are Ocean Zones?

Ocean zones are different layers of the ocean, kind of like floors in a really big, underwater building! Each zone has different animals, plants, and amounts of sunlight.

Sunlight Zone: This is the top layer where sunlight reaches, making it warm and bright. It’s where most ocean animals live, like dolphins, turtles, and colorful fish.
Twilight Zone: This layer is deeper, where only a little bit of sunlight can reach. It’s darker and cooler, and animals like squid and lanternfish live here.
Midnight Zone: This zone is completely dark because sunlight can’t reach it at all. It’s cold, and only creatures that can survive in the dark, like anglerfish and giant squid, live here.
The Abyss: Even deeper, this zone is freezing and pitch black. Strange animals like sea cucumbers and deep-sea worms live here.
The Trenches: This is the very bottom, in deep, narrow trenches. It’s the coldest and darkest part of the ocean, and only a few tough creatures, like tiny shrimp, can live here.

Each zone is like a different world, with its own special creatures and environment — that’s what makes the ocean so exciting to explore!

How to Play the Sorting Activity

Download and print the Ocean Zones Sorting Mats. You can find them here. We laminated ours for more durability. Using the guide sheet, help your child find which layer each animal lives in. You can talk about why each animal might live in that zone instead of a different one. Repeat as many times as you’d like!