"In this classroom, relationships are fostered, families are respected, and children are honored.
In this classroom, nature's gifts are valued and children's thoughts are captured.
In this classroom, learning is alive and aesthetic beauty is appreciated." -Unknown

Saturday, July 13, 2013

Preschool Ocean Theme with Natural Materials


Our extended year summer program was all about the Ocean. We did lots of exploring and learning. Here are a few of our adventures using natural materials that come from the ocean or that you might find at the ocean.


Our provocation for an ocean sculpture including driftwood, shells and sand with glitter mixed into it.


We later added some of the ocean beads we were going to use for bracelets.


We placed out some borrowed ocean items for the children to touch and explore to discover textures, patterns and more. 


A variety of shells are always intriguing to children.


"Hear that? It's the ocean calling."


We were amazed by this enormous shell and began wondering about the creature that might have lived inside of it and how large it would have been.




The sponge was fascinating and the holes throughout it just beckoned for us to peer through to the other side. "I see you."


We also did some still life art. After learning about starfish AKA sea stars, we propped up a couple for the kiddos to observe while painting.