Ocean Following Directions Activities for Speech Therapy
Make Speech Therapy sessions fun and engaging with these Ocean Following Directions Activities! This no-prep printable resource includes 7 ocean-themed colouring worksheets designed to help children practise listening to, understanding, and following instructions of varying lengths and complexity.
Each underwater scene is accompanied by a page of mixed following directions instructions. Students listen carefully and colour the pictures accordingly, providing opportunities to practise one-step, two-step, sequential, and temporal directions, alongside important receptive language concepts.
Perfect for Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs/SLPs), teachers, and educators, these ocean-themed activities are ideal for individual therapy, mixed groups, classroom activities, and home practice throughout the year.
⭐ Why Therapists Love These Ocean Following Directions Activities
- 7 engaging ocean-themed colouring scenes
- No preparation required — simply print and go
- Targets instructions of varying lengths and complexity
- Supports receptive language and listening comprehension
- Includes one-step and two-step directions
- Targets temporal concepts such as before and after
- Provides opportunities to practise size, number, and quantity concepts
- Suitable for individual Speech Therapy and mixed language groups
- Great for classroom activities and home practice
- Underwater theme can be used throughout the year
⭐ What’s Included?
This Ocean Following Directions Activities pack contains:
- 7 black-and-white ocean-themed colouring scenes
- 7 corresponding pages of mixed following directions instructions
- A crayon/colour reference page for each scene
Each activity is ready to print and use, making it easy to incorporate structured receptive language practice into your sessions.
Students listen to spoken directions and colour each picture accordingly.
⭐ Following Directions Skills Targeted
The worksheets contain instructions of varying lengths and complexity, allowing therapists to select and adapt activities according to individual needs.
One-Step Directions
Practise listening to and completing a single instruction.
Two-Step and Sequential Directions
Target instructions containing two actions, including sequential language such as first and then.
Temporal Directions
Practise understanding instructions containing:
- Before
- After
These concepts provide opportunities to work on understanding the order in which actions should be completed.
More Complex Language Concepts
Some instructions also include:
- Size concepts
- Number and quantity concepts
- Descriptive language
- “The rest”
- “The remaining”
These additional language demands provide opportunities to practise interpreting more complex instructions within a structured activity.
⭐ Great for Mixed Speech Therapy Groups
These Ocean Following Directions Activities are particularly useful for mixed groups, where students may be working towards different language goals.
While one student practises following two-step instructions, another might focus on temporal vocabulary, listening comprehension, descriptive concepts, or sentence formulation.
You can also use the ocean illustrations to encourage discussion, naming, describing, and additional vocabulary practice.
The same activity can therefore be adapted to support a variety of receptive and expressive language targets.
⭐ How to Use
These worksheets are designed to be simple to prepare and deliver.
- Print the ocean scene, corresponding directions page, and crayon reference page.
- Provide the student with the required colouring materials.
- Read the directions aloud, selecting the level of support appropriate for the child.
- Encourage the student to listen carefully and colour the picture according to the instructions.
- Review the completed picture together and discuss any instructions that were difficult.
For additional support, you can repeat instructions, break them into smaller parts, model unfamiliar vocabulary, or use visual cues.
As students develop their skills, you can gradually increase the complexity of the instructions presented.
⭐ Perfect for:
- Speech and Language Therapists (SLTs)
- Speech-Language Pathologists (SLPs)
- Receptive language intervention
- Following directions goals
- Listening comprehension activities
- Ocean and under-the-sea therapy themes
- Individual Speech Therapy sessions
- Mixed language groups
- Small-group intervention
- Primary and elementary classrooms
- Special education settings
- Home practice and homework
⭐ No Prep and Easy to Adapt
These Ocean Following Directions Activities are designed to save preparation time while providing engaging opportunities for language practice.
Simply print the pages you need, provide crayons or colouring pencils, and you’re ready to begin.
You can adapt the activities by:
- Reading instructions aloud one at a time
- Repeating instructions where appropriate
- Breaking longer directions into smaller steps
- Providing additional visual or verbal support
- Discussing unfamiliar vocabulary before starting
- Encouraging students to explain instructions in their own words
- Reviewing the completed pictures together
- Extending the activity with additional ocean-themed vocabulary and describing tasks
The printable black-and-white format also makes the worksheets convenient for sending home.
⭐ Explore More Following Directions Resources
Looking for additional themed following directions activities?
You may also be interested in our Seasonal Following Directions Activities Bundle, which includes Spring, Summer, Fall, and Winter packs with 40 seasonal colouring scenes in total.
Explore the Seasonal Following Directions Activities Bundle →
These collections provide opportunities to revisit similar language goals using different themes throughout the year.
⭐ Additional Information
This resource was created by a qualified and certified paediatric Speech and Language Therapist based in the UK.
The information, strategies, and activities included within this resource are based on current knowledge, evidence-informed practice, and clinical experience at the time of writing. While every effort has been made to ensure the content is accurate and up to date, research and best practice recommendations continue to evolve over time.
This resource is intended to provide practical ideas and support for therapists, educators, and caregivers. It is not intended to replace direct Speech and Language Therapy assessment, intervention, diagnosis, or professional advice.
Practitioners should always use their professional judgement when selecting, adapting, and implementing activities to meet the individual needs of the children they support. Not all strategies or activities will be suitable for every child or setting.
This resource may be reviewed and updated periodically to reflect new evidence, feedback, and best practice recommendations.
Additional Product Information
- Digital download only
- Printable black-and-white colouring worksheets
- 7 ocean-themed scenes
- Corresponding mixed following directions instructions
- Crayon/colour reference pages included
- No physical product will be shipped
- Crayons and colouring materials are not included
Make Speech Therapy sessions easier to plan with these engaging, ready-to-use ocean following directions activities that support receptive language, listening, and understanding instructions.
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