Singing is a wonderful way to engage young children and teach them about the ocean and its fascinating creatures. This page contains a collection of 31 fun preschool ocean songs and fingerplays, complete with lyrics and actions. The songs cover a variety of ocean animals like fish, whales, dolphins, crabs, octopuses, and starfish. Children will love singing about swimming, diving, and playing in the waves. These interactive songs allow preschoolers to act out ocean animal movements with their bodies.
Parents and teachers can use these ocean songs during circle time, music time, or as part of an ocean theme. Singing together helps build vocabulary and promotes early literacy skills. Most importantly, these delightful ocean songs will spark children’s curiosity and appreciation for the mysteries of the sea.
I’m a Fish
Added: 09-28-1998
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Little Teapot”
I’m a little fishy, I can swim
Here is my tail, here is my fin.
When I want to have fun with my friends,
I wiggle my tail and dive right in!
Take Me Out to the Ocean
Added: 09-28-1998
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “Take Me Out to the Ballgame”
Take me out to the ocean
Take me out to the sea
There goes a starfish and sand dollar,
I’m having such fun, I’ve just got to holler
Oh, it’s swim, swim, swim, underwater
Catch a ride on a whale, don’t fear,
For the sea animals are our friends,
Let’s give a great big cheer!
Fish Are Swimming
Added: 09-28-1998
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Frere Jacques”
Fish are swimming, fish are swimming,
In the sea, in the sea,
A-splishing and a-splashing,
A-splishing and a-splashing,
Look and see, look and see.
Three Little Fishies
Added: 09-28-1998
Original Author: Unknown
Down in the meadow in a little bitty pool
Swan two little fishies & a mama fishie too.
“Swim,” said the mama fishie, “Swim if you can.”
And they swam & they swam all over the dam.
(chorus)
Boop Boop Dittem Dattem What-tem Chu!
Boop Boop Dittem Dattem What-tem Chu!
Boop Boop Dittem Dattem What-tem Chu!
And they swam & they swam all over the dam.
“Stop,” said the mama fishie, “Or you will get lost.”
The 3 little fishies didn’t want to be bossed.
The 3 little fishies went off on a spree.
They sway & they swam right out to the sea.
chorus
“Whee!” yelled the little fishies, “Here’s a lot of fun,
We’ll swim in the sea till the day is done.”
They swam & they swam, it was a lark,
Till all of a sudden they saw a shark!
chorus
“Help!” cried the little fishies, “Gee, look at all the whales!”
And quick as they could, they turned on their tails.
And back to the pool in the meadow they swam,
And they swam & they swam back over the dam.
Five Little Sea Creatures
Added: 03-31-1999
Original Author: Unknown
Five little sea creatures
On the ocean floor;
The lobster walked away
Now there are four.
Four little sea creatures
Living in the sea;
The octopus crept away
Now there are three.
Three little sea creatures
Wondering what to do;
“Good-bye,” said the starfish
Now there are two.
Two little sea creatures
Not having much fun;
Off swam the sea horse
Now there is one.
One little hermit crab
Sad and all alone,
Back came the starfish,
Back came the sea horse,
Back came the octopus,
Back came the lobster,
Then all five went home.
Sea Gull Song
Added: 03-31-1999
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “Frere Jacques”
I see sea gulls
I see sea gulls,
At the beach,
At the beach,
Soaring, diving, fishing,
Soaring, diving, fishing,
At the beach,
At the beach.
Other verses:
I hear the ocean,
I hear the ocean,
At the beach,
At the beach,
Crashing, splashing, foaming
Crashing, splashing, foaming,
At the beach,
At the beach.
Five Cranky Crabs
Added: 06-26-2000
Original Author: Unknown
Five cranky crabs were digging on the shore.
One swam into a net and then there were four.
Four cranky crabs were floating in the sea.
One got tangled up in seaweed then there were three.
Three Cranky crabs were wondering what to do.
One dug a deep, deep hole. Then there were two.
Two cranky crabs were warming in the sun.
One got scooped up in a cup. Then there was one.
One cranky crab was smarter than his friends.
He hid between the jagged rocks.
That’s how the story ends.
Swimming In The Sea
Added: 07-27-2000
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Doo-wa diddy diddy” There I was just swimming in the sea
singing oooo wah diddy diddy dum diddy deeAll the sudden there’s a dolphin next to me
singing ooo wah diddy diddy dum diddy dee She swam fast
she swam fastshe dove deep
she dove deepshe swam fast dove deep
Hey this dolphin’s pretty neat!!do wah diddy diddy dum diddy dee
Dolphin-swimmingCrab-pinching
whale – breachingshark swimming
mermaids plug nose and shimmy down
5 Little Fish
Added: 07-27-2000
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “5 little monkeys (teasing the alligator)”
5 little fish swimming in the sea
Teasin’ Mr. Shark
You can’t catch me, You can’t catch me!
along came the Mr. Shark as quiet as can be
Snap! The little fish right out of the sea.
4 little Etc…
One little fish swimming in the sea
Teasin’ Mr. Shark
You can’t catch me, You can’t catch me!
along came the Mr. Shark as quiet as can be
Snap! The little fish right out of the sea.
Now Mr. Shark is lonely can’t you see. .
5 Little Fishes
Added: 07-27-2000
Original Author: Unknown
5 little fishes swimming near the shore
1 took a dive and then there was 4
4 little fishes were swimming out to sea
One went for food and then there was 3
3 little fishes said now what should we do?
One swam away and then there were 2
2 little fishes we are having great fun
One took a plunge and then there was 1
1 little fish said I like the warm sun
Away she went and then there were none!
The Octopus
Added: 02-27-2001
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Little White Duck”
There are eight tentacles
Swimming in the ocean,
Eight tentacles making a commotion
Who could belong to so many feet?
The octopus does and they help him eat.
He has eight tentacles
Swimming in the ocean,
Swim, Swim, Swim.
The Whales
Added: 04-29-2001
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “I’m a little teapot”
I’m a humpback whale,
I’m very strong.
I leap about
And sing a song.
I like to eat my fill
In the Northern Sea.
But in the winter,
South I flee.
I am a beluga,
I’m all white.
From head to tail
I’m quite a sight.
You can hear me singing
Way up north,
Playing and swimming
Back and forth.
I’m a mighty orca
Black and white.
In the sea
I’m a beautiful sight.
I’m not very big,
But I am sleek.
I hunt for my food
Cause I have teeth.
I’m A Big Whale
Added: 04-29-2001
Original Author Unknown
Sung to: “Clementine”
I am swimming, I am swimming,
I am swimming in the sea.
I’m a big whale and I’m swimming
I am swimming in the sea.
I am singing , I am singing,
I am singing in the sea.
I’m a big whale and I’m singing,
I am singing in the sea.
I am spouting, I am spouting,
I am spouting in the sea.
I’m a big whale and I’m spouting,
I am spouting in the sea.
We’re Little Orange Crabs
Added: 05-06-2001
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “The Farmer in the Dell”
We’re little orange crabs
Who live down by the sea,
And where we do go
We’re quick as quick can be.
We’re little orange crabs
Who like to run and hide,
And when you see us walking by
It’s always side to side.
Three Little Fish
Added: 05-06-2001
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Three Blind Mice”
Three little fish, three little fish
(hold up three fingers)
See how they swim, see how they swim
(make swimming motion with arms)
Round and Round and fast they go
(“swim” fast – sing fast)
Now they are going very slow
(“swim” slow-also sign slow)
Three little fish, three little fish
(hold up 3 fingers again)
Down in the Water
Added: 05-13-2001
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Down by the Station”
Down in the water, early in the morning
See the ocean creatures, swimming all around.
You can see the parents playing with their babies.
Under the sea is where they’re found!
Creatures of the Sea
Added: 05-13-2001
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Sing a Song of Sixpence”
Playing in the oceans, underneath the sea,
Snuggled in the waves is where we want to be.
We are all the creatures swimming happily,
This is where we live because we’re creatures of the sea!
Once I Saw An Octopus
Added: 07-21-2001
Original Author Unknown
Once I saw an octopus
In the deep blue sea. (Point downward)
I called, “Mr. Octopus,
Won’t you swim with me?” (Cup hands around mouth)
Then out came his tentacles,
So very long and straight, (extend eight fingers.)
One and two and three and four,
Five and six and seven and eight. (count on fingers.)
Eight Arms
Added: 07-21-2001
Original Author: Unknown
Once I saw an octopus,
Deep down in the sea.
(Clasp hands together with thumbs inside.)
Out came her eight tentacles
To play and swim with me.
(Extend and wiggle eight fingers)
Lions of the Sea
Added: 02-19-2002
Submitted By: Angela Vargas
Sung to: “Sing a Song of Sixpence”
Playing in the ocean underneath the sea,
Snuggled in the waves is where we like to be.
We are all the sea lions swimming happily.
Ar Ar Ar Ar! (Doing arms in a flipper flapping motion together in front of the body) Fish for me!
Sticky, Sticky Starfish
Added: 04-05-2002
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Twinkle, Twinkle Little Star”
Sticky, sticky little starfish,
How I wonder what you are,
Beneath the sea so cool and blue
Can you see me as I see you?
Sticky, sticky little starfish
Beneath the sea so cool and blue
Catch a Fish
Added: 04-05-2002
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Row, Row, Row your boat”
Catch, catch, catch a fish,
Hook it on your line.
Reel it, reel it, reel it,
This one will be mine.
Fishy Pokey
Added: 04-05-2002
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Hokey Pokey”
Put your left fin in
Put your left fin out
Put your left fin in
You shake it all about
You do the fishy pokey
And you turn yourself around
That’s what its all about
Then do other fishy part, back fin, right fin, head, gills, whole body.
Down in the Deep Blue Sea
Added: 06-22-2002
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Shoo-Fly”
Down in the deep blue sea,
Down in the deep blue sea,
Down in the deep blue sea,
What will we see?
We’ll see a swimming fish,
We’ll see a swimming fish,
We’ll see a swimming fish,
That is what we’ll see
We’ll see an octopus ��
We’ll see a great big whale…
Dolphin Family Song
Added: 7-22-02
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Adam’s Family Theme”
When they get into the notion
They jump out of the ocean
With tail fluke locomotion,
The Dolphin family
Swim in the sea, eee eee
Swim in the sea, eee eee
Swim in the sea
Live in a pod
Swim in the sea, eee eee
I bet you didn’t suppose
Their blow hole was their nose
And in and out the air goes
The Dolphin family
Swim in the sea, eee eee
Swim in the sea, eee eee
Swim in the sea,
Live in a pod
Swim in the sea, eee eee
Slippery Fish
Added: 06-01-2004
Original Author: Unknown
Slippery Fish, Slippery Fish….
Swimming through the water ( use hands to act out fish swimming through the water)
Slippery Fish , Slippery Fish
Gulp, Gulp ( Each time you say Gulp…use hands on either side of mouth and slide down throat)
OH NO ! (When you say this, put hands on face)
He got eaten by……..
A Tuna Fish, A Tuna Fish…..
Swimming through the water ( use hands to act out a tuna fish swimming through the water)
A Tuna Fish, A Tuna Fish
Gulp, Gulp
OH NO!
He got eaten by……..
An Octopus, an Octopus….
Swimming through the water ( use arms and wave them up and down for Octopus arms)
An Octopus, an Octopus…
Gulp, Gulp
OH NO !
He got eaten by…….
A Great Big Shark, A Great Big Shark….
swimming through the water (use arms from elbows to hands to look like a shark mouth opening and closing)
A Great Big Shark, A Great Big Shark…..
Gulp, Gulp
OH NO!
He got eaten by….
A Big Fat Whale, A Big Fat Whale…..
swimming through the water ( Use a deep voice and hold arms out to your sides to look like a Big Fat Whale)
A Big Fat Whale, A Big Fat Whale….
Burp, Burp….
EXCUSE ME! ( use a higher voice to say this part)
A Sailor Went to Sea
Added: 02-02-2009
Original Author: Unknown
A sailor went to sea, sea, sea
To see what he could see, see, see
But all that he could see, see, see
Was the bottom of the deep blue sea, sea, sea!
My Fishy Song
Added: 02-2002-09
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “The More We Get Together”
If I could be a fishy,
A fishy, a fishy
If I could be a fishy
What kind would I be?
A swordfish, a guppy,
A goldfish, a molly,
If I could be a fishy,
I would be a (child fills in the blank)
My Octopus Song
Added: 02-02-2009
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Three Blind Mice”
Octopus, Octopus
In the Sea, In the Sea
To swim they use all 8 of their arms
Their color changes to hide them from harm
They live in the sea, not on a farm
The Octopus
I’m a Big Whale
Added 2-02-09
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Clementine”
I am swimming, I am swimming,
I am swimming in the sea.
I’m a big whale and I’m swimming,
I am swimming in the sea.
I am singing, I am singing,
I am singing in the sea.
I’m a big whale and I’m singing,
I am singing in the sea.
I am spouting, I am spouting,
I am spouting in the sea.
I’m a big whale and I’m spouting,
I am spouting in the sea.
My Starfish Song
Added: 02-02-2009
Original Author: Unknown
Sung to: “Mary Had A Little Lamb”
I’m a little brown starfish,
Brown starfish, brown starfish
I’m a little brown starfish
Who lives under the sea