Using Safari Ltd Sea Life Figures in Ocean Lessons

Quick answer

Use Safari Ltd Sea Life figures as hands-on teaching tools: let children compare species, build food chains, and learn anatomy through play.

Five steps to plan your ocean lesson

1. Sort by habitat zone: Ask children to arrange the figures into three open zones: surface, open ocean, and deep-sea. For example, the Minke Whale often feeds near the surface, while Silky Sharks patrol the open ocean. Check for correct placement and discuss why some species move between zones.
2. Build a simple food chain: Use the figures to represent a three-link chain: small fish (not included) → Silky Shark → Salmon Shark. Point out that the Silky Shark eats small fish and the Salmon Shark may prey on other sharks. Let kids move the figures to show predator-prey relationships. Challenge older kids to add a baleen whale like the Minke as a filter feeder that does not fit the same chain.
3. Compare toothed vs. baleen whales: Place the Minke Whale next to the Salmon Shark. Explain that the Minke has baleen plates to strain krill, while the Salmon Shark has teeth for catching fish. A common mistake: children assume all big ocean animals eat the same food.
4. Identify shark families: Lay out the Silky Shark and Salmon Shark side by side. Point out their shared streamlined body, then note differences: the Silky has a pointed nose and slender build (requiem shark), while the Salmon Shark is bulkier and has a mottled pattern (mackerel shark). Show how scientists group them by skeleton and fin type. Let children sketch the two body outlines to reinforce the difference.
5. Create a size comparison chart: Use a tape measure or string to show real-life lengths: Silky Shark can grow 8 ft, Salmon Shark up to 10 ft, and Minke Whale about 35 ft. Lay the figures beside the marks. The takeaway is that even the smallest whale is much larger than any shark.

Figures that support your lessons

• Silky Shark Toy: The Silky Shark figure measures about 5.5 inches and highlights a streamlined body with a pointed nose and slender build. It lets kids see the difference between requiem sharks like the Silky and mackerel sharks such as the Salmon Shark.

  

• Minke Whale Toy: The Minke Whale is a relatively small baleen whale related to the Blue Whale and Sei Whale. Use it to introduce baleen vs. toothed whales—contrast its baleen-plate feeding with the shark's predatory teeth.

  

• Salmon Shark Toy: The Salmon Shark figure shows the streamlined shape of a mackerel shark, similar to the Great White and Mako. It helps children identify shared traits among mackerel sharks and spot the unique mottled pattern on the Salmon Shark.