Read and discuss the book with the children.  The children will then create a colorful fish of their own to be used at an addition center.  Each child should get a pre traced fish (or depending on child's ability a fish tracer and a sheet of white construction paper).  The child should cut out the fish and embellish it with supplies such as sequins, markers, tissue paper.  Back each child's fish with a strip of magnet tape.  Place several fish at a center.  Have students count the fish, then add more and have the children tell you the new total.  Write out the number sentence below the fish to introduce the addition and equal signs, as well as the structure of the number sentence.  Continue with a few more examples.  Invite student volunteers to take turns making up number sentences.  Encourage the children to visit the center to practice more fishy addition.

  Sea Sums by Joy N. Hulme

Set up the following center that can be shared after the reading and discussion of Sea Sums.  To prepare the center set out a tub with toy ocean animals, shells and any other ocean objects collected.  Print simple equations on cards and add the cards to the center.  Direct the children to take an equation from the center and to use the tub of ocean manipulatives to solve the equation.  Include some blank cards so children can also use the manipulatives to write their own equations.