We love books by Giles Andreae! Today we’re learning about ocean animals through ocean yoga poses inspired by his book, Commotion in the Ocean.
I only wish that I had discovered his work while I was still a teacher. Books by Giles Andreae are perfect for units of study on the ocean, the jungle, the farm, gardens, and safaris, which are all of my favorite topics. His illustrations are bright, colorful, and engaging, and each book has clever rhyming text.
For this month’s Virtual Book Club for Kids, I’m so excited to be featuring the work of Giles Andreae. He’s a British author who has written over thirty popular books for young children.
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My favorite books by Giles Andreae are:
K Is for Kissing a Cool Kangaroo
Cock-a-Doodle-Doo! Barnyard Hullabaloo
Ocean yoga sequence inspired by a book by Giles Andreae
Today, using a Giles Andreae book for inspiration, we’re going to get moving, learning, and having fun by taking a pretend journey to the ocean through story and movement. Kids yoga is a great way to learn about ocean animals and bring the story to life through physical activity.
Below, you’ll find a yoga sequence for kids inspired by Commotion in the Ocean
Don’t worry about practicing the perfect yoga pose. Just dive in and use your imagination to act out the animals. Focus on having fun, not on perfectly aligned poses.
Convert your space into a mini-ocean with ocean props and ocean-themed music, then pretend to dive into the ocean, where you’ll see these ocean animals:
Ocean Yoga inspired by
Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae
1. Crab – Table Top Pose
(Come to sitting with your palms flat on the floor behind you and the soles of your feet flat in front of you. Lift your buttocks to create a table, then walk like a crab.)
2. Turtle – Tortoise Pose
(Sit on your buttocks with your knees bent and your feet flat on the floor. Then take your feet out wide and be sure you are sitting with a tall, straight spine. Put your arms down in front of you, between your legs. Slide your arms under your knees and place your hands flat on the floor outside your legs. Bend forward, keeping your back and neck straight.)
3. Dolphin – Dolphin Pose
(On your hands-and-knees, bend your elbows. Rest your forearms on the ground, with your palms flat. Lift your knees to straighten your legs while looking forward.)
4. Angel Fish – Bow Pose
(Lie on your tummy, bend your knees, lift your chest, reach your arms back towards your toes, and hold onto your feet. Pucker your mouth like a fish’s.)
5. Jellyfish – Standing Forward Bend
(From Mountain Pose, bend your upper body, reach for your toes, and sway your arms like jellyfish tentacles.)
6. Shark – Locust Pose
(Lie on your tummy, lift your chest and shoulders, look up, clasp your hands back behind you, and pretend to glide through the water like a shark.)
For images and descriptions, see our list of Kids Yoga Poses.
Grab your Ocean Animals Yoga Cards for Kids
Learn about ocean animals through basic yoga poses!
Pretend to be a sea urchin, sea turtle, and sea star! Instantly download these 52 ocean animal yoga cards to learn through movement in your home, classroom, or studio. Includes an Index Card, Yoga Tips, Pose Instructions, 20 Yoga Pose Cards, and 20 matching Ocean Animal Cards. The multicultural yoga kids are from seven countries. Ages 3+.
Purchase your Ocean Animals Yoga Cards for Kids:
Ocean Animals Yoga Cards for Kids
Download your Ocean Yoga Poster
PIN IT FOR LATER
My daughter practicing the Tortoise Pose.
Can you come up with yoga poses to match the other eight ocean animals in the book? Check our list of kids yoga poses for ideas.
Extend your Ocean Yoga experience
You could make an ocean diorama, create 3D ocean animals, read other ocean-themed books, play with ocean animal figurines in a water table or bath, research interesting facts about each of the ocean animals, write your own ocean animal poems, play with ocean animal cards to identify and sort, or write an ocean animal story. Or you could visit your local aquarium like my daughter and I did this weekend!
Pictures from our visit to the local aquarium.
Other Yoga for Kids Links
Monthly Kids Yoga Themes
Holiday Kids Yoga Lesson Plans
List of 58 Yoga Poses for Kids
Kids Yoga Ideas Using Children’s Books
Seasonal Yoga Lesson Plans
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