Sand and Sea Lesson Plans

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Summer Lesson Plans

Taste-Safe Sand

Lesson Plan:

​Activity:

Taste-Safe Sand

Lesson plan developed by Ms. Erika Geelhoed, BA Ed

Age Group:

Mobile Infants

* Lesson plan objective and assessment can be adapted to use this activity with toddlers or preschoolers.

Objectives:  

Children will:

• develop sensory motor skills.
• develop their sense of touch by experiencing new textures.
• develop fine-motor skills by shoveling and scooping.

Taste-safe Sand

CDA Competency Standard:   

I.3.2b

• Developmentally appropriate materials are available
  • ​​​b) A variety of materials are provide for children to explore

Materials: 

• whole wheat flour
• vegetable oil
• large bin
• beach accessories (pails, shovels, etc.)

Procedure: 

• To create the taste-safe sand, combine 4 cups of whole-wheat flour with ½ cup vegetable oil.
  
• Place the sand in a sensory bin along with a few beach toys for the infant to practice scooping.
  
• Invite the children to play with the sand with you in a comfortable and appropriate area (you can put a shower curtain underneath for easy cleanup if desired).
  
• Show the children how to scoop using the shovel and pail while talking with them and introducing new vocabulary. 

Assessment: 

• Observe and record the children’s reactions to the sand. How did they manipulate the shovel? Did they attempt to scoop the sand? Take photos of this activity to keep for the children’s portfolio. 

Note: Please provide appropriate supervision to the children in your care when completing all activities. You will need to decide what types of activities are safe for the children in your care. Appropriate and reasonable caution should be used when providing art and sensory experiences for children. Infants require special caution, only use non-toxic materials, and do not allow infants to put things in their mouths that are a choking hazard. ​  

Online Early Childhood Education

Click on the course icon for enrollment information.

Deep Blue Sea Classroom Fun!

Waves in a Bottle
Fill a plastic soda bottle half way with blue dyed water. Next fill the remainder of the bottle with oil.  Now the children can make waves by tilting the bottle.  Be sure to glue the bottle cap securely for safety. 

Aquarium
Put an aquarium in your room full of fish. Children love to watch the fish swim around.  

Ocean Bag 
Add blue hair gel (or toothpaste), small beads, and foam fish to a Zip-Loc bag. Close the bag and put it into a second bag. Super glue and tape the second bag shut. Now your children can play with this ocean bag.! 

I'm A Little Fishy 
Author Unknown
tune of: I'm a little tea pot

I'm a little fishy
Watch me swim
Here is my tail
Here is my fin
When I want to have fun with my friends
I wiggle my tail an dive right in