Use literature as a tool to teach children about seashells. Read the titles "What Lives in a Shell?" by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld and "Seashells" by Ann O. Squire. Ask children questions that pertain to the books before, during and after reading to build their comprehension. After reading the books, provide children with different types of shells and magnifying glasses and encourage them to use the books and the magnifying glasses to identify the different types of shells and the animals that live among them.
This activity encourages children to match seashells based on their appearance, while building sorting skills. Offer children different types of shells and prompt them to sort the shells based on the way they look. They can sort them based on color, pattern, size and shape. While sorting through the shells, discuss the types of animals that may have once called the shells home.
Teach students the names and about the different types of seashells with this activity. Print out pictures of particular types of shells; conchs, scallops, mussels and clams, for example. Spread the pictures on a flat surface and talk about the animals that live inside each one, as well as the features of the shells. Provide children with real examples of each type of shell and encourage them to match the shells to the pictures that illustrate them. While matching the shells, ask them to name the types of shells and the animals that live in them.
Put students knowledge of shells to the test with this sensory activity. Place different types of shells inside brown paper lunch bags. Invite students to place their hands inside the bags and feel the shells; be careful not to let students see inside the bags. Upon feeling the shells, ask students if they can identify what types they are based only on their sense of touch.