Splash right into this preschool beach theme!
Whether It's the middle of summer, or the dead of winter, there's no better time to head to the "beach!"
Even if you don't have an actual beach near you, you and your children can still enjoy these beach-related activities in your classroom or home!
Start by decorating your classroom to look as though you are at the beach. Try these decorations in your class:
My preschool classroom is set up into interest learning centers (dramatic play, science, construction, etc.). Therefore, the activities below are divided by where they would be placed.
It is not necessary to set up your preschool activities in centers--you can just do these activities wherever you have the space!
Beach Days
Have several bathing suits available for children to dress up in. Another option is for a lifeguard costume (red hat, red shirt with white cross on it, whistle or megaphone, and lifepreserver). Other props that would be cute in this center would be: sunglasses, empty bottle of sunscreen, play radio, beach towels, beach bag, and a beach umbrellas.
Sand Castles
If you have a sandbox, or can fill a plastic kiddie pool with sand, you can do a sand castle building activity. Give children lots of pails, shovels, and decorations like sticks, sea shells, etc. to make their castles. Also helpful would be access to water (either a hose or bucket) that would allow the sand to be more moldable.
These are some read-aloud books that will fit in perfectly with your preschool beach theme unit:
Sounds of the Beach
Find a tape or CD with ocean-type music and let the children listen to the sounds that they would hear if they visited the beach. Have them try to guess what is making each sound (seagull, waves, etc.). I once recorded my own recording one day at the beach! It was great! Waves, children laughing, seagulls--it had it all!
Seashell Count and Sort
Fill a large pan with sand, and then place a variety of seashells buried in the sand. Have children sort through the sand (or you could have a sand filter pan available) to find the seashells. When they have found them all, have them count how many there are and then sort them by shape, size, or color.
Sink or Float
At your water table (or in a big tub), have a variety of objects that are beach-related (see decorations for examples). Have children predict whether each object will sink or float in the water. Let them experiment and see if they were correct.
If you're able to, a trip to the beach would be perfect with this theme. Another choice would be to go to a local waterpark, play in the sprinklers or in small kiddie pools!
Beach Scene
Give each child a square of blue Jello and some graham crackers to crush (for the sand). They can decorate with gummy fish, Lifesavers, and Goldfish crackers!
Beach Cup
Make vanilla pudding and add a few drops of blue food coloring. Layer blue pudding(water) with crushed vanilla cookies(sand) in a see-through plastic cup. Top with gummy fish and an umbrella stick.
Fruit Salad
Mix together various types of cut up fruit (like bananas, oranges, apples, pineapple, watermelon, etc.) in a bowl and serve with an umbrella stick.
What could be more fun than to learn songs to go along with your preschool Beach theme? Here are some favorites:
Five Little Fishies (sung to the tune of Five Little Monkeys)
Five little fishies in the sea
teasing Mr. Sharky
you can't catch me
Well along came Mr. Sharky (softly) as quiet as can be
He snapped that fish
right out of the sea.
Four little fishies in the sea
teasing Mr. Sharky
you can't catch me
Well along came Mr. Sharky (softly) as quiet as can be
He snapped a fish up
right out of the sea.
Three little fishies in the sea
teasing Mr. Sharky
you can't catch me
Well along came Mr. Sharky (softly) as quiet as can be
He snapped a fish up
right out of the sea.
Two little fishies in the sea
teasing Mr. Sharky
you can't catch me
Well along came Mr. Sharky (softly) as quiet as can be
He snapped a fish up
right out of the sea
One little fishy in the sea
teasing Mr. Sharky
you can't catch me
Well along came Mr. Sharky (softly) as quiet as can be
He snapped that fish up
right out of the sea
Now poor Mr. Sharky is lonely
Can't you see...
To The Beach (sung to the tune of London Bridge)
We are going to the beach,
to the beach,
to the beach,
We are going to the beach
in our bathing suits.
We will find some rocks and shells,
rocks and shells,
rocks and shells.
We will find some rocks and shells
to gather by the water.
We will build a sand castle,
a sand castle
a sand castle.
We will build a sand castle
with bridges and a tower.
We will have a picnic too,
a picnic too,
a picnic too.
We will have a picnic too,
With sandwiches and oranges.
Home we head with sunburned cheeks,
sunburned cheeks,
sunburned cheeks.
Home we head with sunburned cheeks,
and treasures from our visit.
Want more ideas? Check out my Beach Theme Page and Ocean Life Theme Page on my sister site by clicking the images below!
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