A Beach Theme in Winter

Enjoy a beach theme to warm up your preschool classroom this winter! Here are some fun ideas to bring this beachy-keen theme to life:

First, teach your preschool children about the awesome Jellyfish. A link for a great website full of information on this cool creature can be found at:
www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/pub/seascience/jellyfi.html
You will need to paraphrase many of the facts, but the children will enjoy the diagrams and informational tidbits. After you teach some Jellyfish basics have your students create a cute craft!

Jubilant Jellyfish!

Materials Needed:
Various colors or white paper plates, medium sized
A selection of yarn and ribbon in different colors
Glue and Tape
Glitter and Confetti

Instructions:
1.Cut the paper plate in half. If it is already colored then you are set. If not, have your preschooler paint or color the plate. If he or she chooses to paint it be sure it is dry before completing the rest of the project.

2.An adult should staple the two halves together so the cut part is still open.

3.Decorate the open area of the plate with yarn or pieces of ribbon.

4. Offer the children the opportunity to decorate their jellyfish with additional glitter and or confetti, using the glue and a sprinkling of sparkle!

Read some beach books during circle time to set the warm weather mood. Biscuit's First Beach Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli, Beach Day by Mercer Mayer, Kai-lan's Beach Day (Ni Hao, Kai-Lan Ready-to-Read, Beach Day(Clifford's Puppy Days) by Quinlan B. Lee, and Blue's Beach Day (Ready-to-Read)
by Jeff Borkin are all wonderful choices for storytime.

Super sand free snacks include gummy fish, goldfish, seashell shaped chocolates, pecan "sandies" cookies, seashell mac n' cheese, and berry beach smoothies with festive beach umbrellas. Here is the smoothie recipe:

Berry Beach Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 c. plain low-fat yogurt
1 c. frozen, mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.)
1/2 c. orange juice
1 c. lowfat milk

Directions:

1.Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

2.Add more liquid (soy milk or orange juice) if the mixture does not blend easily.

3.Pour half of the mixture into a large paper cup and garnish with a beach umbrella!

Serves: 2
Continue to prepare until all students are served. You may want to enlist parental assistance with the snacks.

Sand Art is a fun craft to do with your preschoolers also. Melissa and Doug offer some reasonably prices sets, and the children will love the hands on appeal of this craft. Utilize a sand and water table if you have one, as a large motor skills sensory station. Even time in the playground sandbox is a great tie in to the beach theme.

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