Lesson Author: Sandy Payton, Full-day kindergarten teacher

Subject: Ocean; Multi-Disciplinary

Grade Levels: K-2

Overview: Students will explore, color, write, and role play in this ongoing ocean/beach setting.

Learning Objectives:

Students will:

• become familiar with ocean life
• sort and classify sea shells
• interact and role play in an appropriate manner
• use fine motor skills to color and write
• record their expeience in the center

Materials:

• blue or white top sheet (size would depend on space available; I use a twin)
• sand table with sand toys, beach towels, assorted sea shells and sea stars
• stuffed ocean animals
• washable markers, black marker, pencil
• sunglasses and sunhats (optional)
• duct tape, ocean journal

Procedure:

Make simple drawings of ocean animals with marker on sheet. Lay out sheet in dramatic play area or other available space and duct tape in place.

Take out the sand table insert and place it on the sheet; fill with sand. Place stuffed animals and large sea shells (conch shells) outside of the sand table; small sea shells can be placed inside the sand table for students to hide, find, sort, and classify.

Have remainder of materials available to the students to role play and explore with. Students can write or draw in the journal about their "day at the beach." Allow students to color the sheet. After the unit, simply wash and reuse.

Teacher Comments: This has always been a favorite of mine as well as my kindergarten students. I limit the number of students to four at a time. Although I encourage them to keep the sand in the sand table, we don't clean up any stray sand until the beach center is disassmbled. (It adds to the ambiance of the center.)