The Sea

By Guest

June 23, 2011

The Sea is a topic that has something for everyone, whether they are landlubbers or water babies. You can get really imaginative with sand and water play and use the role play areas to inspire the children even if you are not near the sea at all. There are some wonderful books that can support the topic and give opportunities for discussion or be the starting point for small projects.

Overview

This topic includes a book list, mind map and suggested activities to cover the six areas of learning. These are available in pdf format for those who don't have access to MS Word. The mindmap bullet points are included as a separate document for ease of reference, but also listed in the 'Ideas and Suggestions' sections below. Most of the early years publications available have covered this topic, often more than once, so don't forget to check your own resources! There are usually book recommendations and other resource suggestions in the topic forum as well, so make sure you have a browse through the discussions to see if there is anything else of interest.

Personal Social and Emotional Development (PSED)

Communication, language and literacy (CLL)

Knowledge and understanding of the world (KUW)

Mathematical Development (MD)

Physical Development (PD)

Creative Development (CD)

Personal, Social and Emotional Development (PSED)

Ideas and Suggestions

Water safety
Sun safety
Water likes/water fears
What would it be like to live in a lighthouse/on a boat?
'I went to the beach and I took...'
Discuss children's seaside trips
Pictures of countries with no water
Role play areas
Circle times

Activities

Build a Big Boat /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

Wish For a Fish /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

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Communication, language and literacy (CLL)

Ideas and Suggestions:

An 'S' word collection
Wave patterns
Sending seaside postcards
Photos/paintings of the sea to initiate discussions
Story books about the sea
Non-fiction books about shells and sea creatures
Songs and Rhymes
Circle times
What we wear at the seaside and why
Different types of 'beaches' (sand/shingle/pebble) in trays to put toes in
Beaching combing /treasure hunt

Activities

Shiny Shells /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

Bon Voyage /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

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Knowledge and understanding of the world (KUW)

Ideas and Suggestions:

Water tray - e.g. rock pool/coloured ice cubes/harbour
Sand tray - e.g. beach combing/treasure/sand castles
What happens when you add water to dry sand?
Make ice lollies
Make fish cakes
Make the Lighthouse Keeper's packed lunch complete with rope to send it
Investigate Lighthouses
Visit the fish counter at the local supermarket
How far are we from the sea
Compare countries with lots of water to those with very little
Icy water - the sea in cold places

Activities

Buried Treasure /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

Blowing Bubbles /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

Display example

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Problem Solving, Reasoning and Numeracy(PSRN)

Ideas and Suggestions:

Sort different types of boats (row/sail/power/paddle)
Shapes at the seaside
Patterns - waves/shells/footprints in the sand
Counting opportunities - tentacles on an octopus/points on a starfish
Sort sea creatures and land animals
Floating and sinking
Capacity
Number sails on boats
Using money in a seaside shop role play area

Activites

Favourite Sea Creatures /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

Fish For Tea /forums/uploads/word.gif /forums/uploads/pdficon.gif

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Physical Development (PD)

Ideas and Suggestions:

Respond with movement to calm/stormy music
Parachute games to show wave motion
Sense of touch - sand/water/shells/shingle/seaweed/pebbles
Malleable materials
Outdoor water play
Design and make area - boats that float
Effects of the sun
Clothing for the beach and in the sea
Be a deep sea diver
Be a ship's mate -actions for 'scrub the decks'/ship ahoy/hoist the sails/walk the plank