Beach and Sea Curriculum Theme - Child Care Training

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Beach Math Game

10/30/2013

Every child loves going to the beach and collect sea shells, stones, ocean glass and starfish that have washed up on the shore.

Here is a great math game using things you find at the beach.

Beach Math Game
Materials Needed: Cookie baking sheet, sand, shells, starfish, stones, and glass beads, card size pictures of shells and star fish, 5x7 index cards, glue, marker, small baskets.

Prepare: Purchase at a variety store, or download and cut out pictures of shells, starfish, stones and glass beads. Make each picture about the size of the palm of your hand. Cut them out and attach to 5x7 index cards. Use contact paper or laminate both sides. For each item create individual cards by writing 1 through 10 and the word for each number.

Set up: Spread the sand about 1/2 inches thick on the cookie baking sheet. At the beach collect, or at the variety store purchase sea shells, starfish, stones and glass beads. Place 10 of each item in their own basket and place them around the cookie baking sheet. Set out each set of cards separately on the side.

This activity can be used with toddlers and up. This game can be used by an individual child, in pairs or as a teacher directed activity.

How to play: The items in the baskets will be used as counters. The cards will tell the child how many items to place on the cookie sheet. The child should pick at least two cards from two or more piles. Then the child can count how many are in the tray together.

Extension Activity 1: Addition and subtraction: Have the child pick a card from one pile and then another from another pile and have them place the items on the cookie baking sheet.

Have the child count each set separately. (When they count have them say and in between each number, this will help them internalize the one on one correspondence.)

Introduce the words, “and,” “all together,” “add to.” If the child can write, have her write out the actions as they go along. 2 stars + 3 stones = 5.If she can only write numbers she can draw a little picture of the item next to the number.

Extension Activity 2: Let the child choose one card. Have the child place the chosen items on the tray. Count the items. Show the child how to draw the number with their index finger in the sand. Count the items again.

Five Little Shells

10/30/2013

Five Little Shells

Original Author Unknown

5 little shells lying on the shore,
Crash went the waves and then there was 4.
4 little shells down by the sea,
Crash went the waves! Then there was 3.
3 little shells, smooth as new,
Crash went the waves! Then there were 2.
2 little shells, sparkling in the sun,
Crash went the waves! Then there was 1.
1 little shell, left by itself,
I took it home, and put it on my shelf.

Beach Art

10/30/2013

Print off beach pictures from clip art or the internet.

Encourage the children to add stickers or glue pictures to the beach pictures.

Jelly Fish Math

10/30/2013

What you need: Glue, paper plates, markers/paint, and googly eyes.

Have the children assemble and color their jellyfish. Then draw numbers on each tentacle. Have them match googly eyes to the numbers on the tentacles.

Painting Starfish

10/30/2013

Sometimes experiencing something in a new way is fun.

On some beaches starfish grow very large.

Here is an open ended art experience using large plastic starfish.

Painting Starfish

Art experience can include just an activity done in the classroom or outside. This experiential activity can be done inside or outside on a nice day.

Materials Needed: two large plastic star fish (purchase at the local variety store.), paint brushes, water colors, lunch tray, and bucket of water, sponges.

Directions: Set out two lunch trays, place a star fish on each tray. Set a brush and water paints next to the lunch tray. Let the children paint the star fish.

When they are finished painting, have the children wash off the paint in the water tub. Place the clean star fish on the lunch tray for the next child

Water Color Sea Creatures

10/30/2013

Print out a picture of a starfish, octopus, whale, etc.

Lay the picture on a white piece of paper. Have the kids use water colors over the top of the picture, then peel the paper up to reveal their sea creature!

Beach Stories

10/30/2013

Children love to tell stories, of things they have done or would like to do. Set up a beach story table and see what an imagination can do!

Read: “To the Beach!” by Linda Ashman, Nadine Bernard Westcott. Kate, her parents, siblings and Fido the dog are off to the beach. But every time they head to the beach they find they have forgotten something! Will they ever get to the beach?

Game: Find pictures or items of everything the family forgets to pack, cut them out and back with felt or double back tape. As you read the story and the family has to return home sing the song and place the item up on the felt board.

Follow-up: After reading the story take down the pictures and ask the children to name all of the items the family forgot to bring.

Materials Needed: Book, small pictures or items from the book backed with felt, or double back tape, pictures of families at the beach, pictures or items of things you might take to the beach such as; sun screen, umbrella, small blanket, sand toys, fake food, beach ball, Frisbee, sun glasses and hats. Include 5x7 cards and a pen to write the story.

Set-up: Set out all the items in an attractive display on the writing table. Set out one piece of blank paper per child and crayons in a small basket. Place the book you read standing up on the table. Place pictures of families at the beach on wall or picture stands.

Instructions: As the children draw their picture and tell you their stories write them on 5x7 cards. When the picture is finished, place the card with their name and story on the back of the picture. (Sometimes children don’t want you to ruin their picture.)

Paper Plate Beach Ball

10/30/2013

Draw lines onto paper plates using a permanent marker to match a beach ball. Allow the children to use paint or markers to finish their very own paper plate beach ball.

First Sounds at the Ocean

10/30/2013

Sand in your toes, and salty air in your nose, you are at the beach!

Here is an activity to help children explore the beach.

Read: “At the Beach” by Anne Rockwell

Rhyme: Walking Down the Beach by Debbie Hasbrook M.Ed

First Sounds at the Ocean

Materials needed: pictures of beach items with a single sound (always use lower case letters when labeling): driftwood, clam, bird, sand, wave, crab, fish, and kelp. You will also need 5x7 cards, glue, contact paper or laminate, marker.

Directions: Teach the children the first sounds of the words. Teach the children the phonetic sound of each letter. Have the children match the first sound with the letter. Let them match sounds alone, in partners, or teacher directed. Display pictures and sounds. You could display these on the wall and attach Velcro to the back of the letter and front of the picture for independent learning.

Extension Activity 1: Add small toy representations of the picture. Put these in a small basket. Have children match first letter sounds and the toy.

Extension Writing Activity 2: Display cards in writing area. Provide 5x7 cards and pencils. Children may attempt to write the words or letters. If they do let them attach the card to a drawing about their word or letter.

Sensory Play Fish

10/30/2013

This is a very easy sensory play project. All you need to do is paint the children's hands and have them press their hands on paper. let them use their hands in the paint to fill in gaps, then add googly eyes and a smile!

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