Volume 3, Issue 14
August 01, 2005

THIS ISSUE'S EARLY CHILDHOOD NEWSLETTER THEME:

At the Beach

WELCOME! to Education World's Early Childhood Newsletter. Every other week, I'll share some ideas on a familiar teaching theme. Hopefully you will find a new activity idea or two -- or a new twist on one of your old favorites! Since I know you are very busy, I'll be short and sweet -- like most of activities I suggest.

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A WORD ABOUT THIS ISSUE'S THEME

Use our poem and activities to help create a beach atmosphere in your classroom area. Whether you choose an indoor or outdoor area, let the pace be slower and less structured than a normal day. Be sure to show pictures of beach scenes and to brainstorm with children the many ways to enjoy “a day at the beach.”

The Beach

Miles of sand,
Water too,
What do you think
We should do?

Let’s dig a tunnel
To far, far away.
And when that’s done,
We’ll swim and play.

Jump into waves –
Salty green and blue,
Look out! A jellyfish –
Floating next to you.

Tonight we’ll go
For an ice cream,
Then home to bed…
Sweet summer dreams!

Susan LaBella
Editor, Early Childhood Education Newsletter

WATER AND SAND
--- Fill a wading pool with fresh water. Let children taste it. Then add some salt to the water and have children dissolve by swishing their hands. Let children taste it again and discuss with them that water at the beach has the same taste.
--- Assemble beach toys, pails, shovels, and water next to the sandbox. Invite children to dig and mix the sand with water. Let them investigate how wet sand and dry sand feel. Encourage building or molding with wet sand.
--- Provide a variety of shells for children to use as tools, for making patterns in the sand, or to decorate a special creation.

OCEAN IN A BOTTLE
Give each child a clear plastic bottle or jar. Have each child choose a food color and add a few drops to the bottle. Next add some glitter and shells in the bottle. Fill the bottle half to 2/3 full of water. Then finish filling the bottle to the top with cooking oil. Cap tightly and slowly turn the bottle upside down. Let children watch the waves and describe what they see.

SUNGLASSES FOR THE BEACH
Cut away two sections from an egg carton for each child. Cut holes in the bottom of each carton cup and paste circles of blue or green cellophane to the inside. Attach a pipe cleaner to each side of the section through a small hole. Let children fit the pipe cleaners around their ears to wear their sunglasses.

WADING IN WATER
Use wading pools for some hot weather fun.
--- Float a bucket in a wading pool. Let children stand outside the pool and try to toss the ball into the bucket.
--- Give each child a toy boat. Invite children to blow their boats across the pool.
--- Let children pour and measure the water in the pool using pails, shells, and measuring cups. Ask: How many cups do you need to fill your bucket? Which holds more water -- a clam shell or a plastic shovel?

READ IT AND DRAW
Read to children, Beach Ball, by Mary Sis, (Greenwillow). Give each child a sheet of blue construction paper and a torn strip of sandpaper. Glue the sandpaper onto the blue paper to look like each story page. Ask children to think about the book and to draw a beach scene. Encourage each child to show his or her picture and tell a little story about it.

RE FR-E-S-H-ING!
Cut a chilled seedless watermelon into 1-inch chunks. Place watermelon chunks into zip- locking plastic bags. Close most of the bag, leaving a small opening. Insert a plastic straw into the opening and push it down to the bottom of the bag. Invite children to squish their watermelon chunks and sip the juice.

Check out the following Web sites for more background and activities.

A Beach Thematic Unit
Some nice beach book suggestions to use with young children.
http://www.teachingheart.net/beachteach.html

Let’s Go to the Beach
Try this beach-related activity with your class.
http://www.atozteacherstuff.com/pages/266.shtml

Authors and Books: Sea, Sand, and Me
A language arts lesson all about the beach.
http://www2.scholastic.com/teachers/authorsandbooks/teachingwithbooks/pr...?
productID=13131&collateralID=10666&displayName=Teaching%2BPlan

Ocean Diorama
Try making this neat diorama for your classroom.
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/crafts/Oceandiorama.shtml

Gather props for almost any theme -- including the beach!
http://www.angelfire.com/dc/childsplay/Prop_Box_Ideas.htm