If you are looking for activities for Summer, the beach theme activity suggestions below will help provide hours of playful learning at home or in the classroom!
Introduction Game for a Beach Theme:
Lay a beach towel on the floor, have the children close their eyes (no peeking!), and then put one beach item under the towel. See if the children can tell what is UNDER the towel without LOOKING. They can look at the outline of the shape, but they cannot peek under the towel. Extension: have one child at a time, lie down on the towel (or have several towels and do with partners) with arms up over their head and palms up. Have another child pick a beach item to place in the hands of the child lying down. Have the child on the towel FEEL the beach object to determine what it is. Some examples of beach items might be: seashells, sand shovel, flip flops, sunglasses, empty tan lotion bottle, sand pail, beach ball, etc.
Play Area:
Life’s a Beach
Create a center of your classroom or learning area into a “beach.”
Some items and suggested materials include: Plastic Pool, kid sized beach/lawn chairs, sunglasses, visors, blow up plastic fish, beach towel, empty or pretend suntan lotion bottles, sand pails and shovels, plastic snorkel set, etc. To create “seaweed” you can hang green crepe paper from the ceiling.
Building:
Building with Noodles
Cut foam pool noodles into different size circles (and/or semi circles). Allow students to use these as “foam blocks” to build with.
Beach Clapping Sounds:
This activity focuses on beginning and/or end sounds in words. It is easiest to focus on a particular letter sound. For example, “s” for sand. Say a word aloud for children and ask the children to carefully listen for the desired letter sound. For example, if working on the letter “s” the teacher may say a word such as “seagull.” Students need to try and determine if the desired sound “s” is at the beginning of the word “seagull” or if it is at the end of the word. If it is at the beginning of the word, students clap their hands up high (above their heads). If the sound is at the end of the word, students clap their hands down low. Continue giving different summer- themed words that begin or end with your targeted letter sound. You may need to do this activity with the children many times before they begin to understand the activity goals.
Seashell Prints:
Use different sized and shaped sea shells dipped in paint to create shell prints. Have the child roll, scrape, and press down on the shells to make different kinds of prints.
For more great summer themed activities see Preschool and Kindergarten Themes for Active Learning and Play!
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