With this project, children create pictures of the ocean. Provide children with white paper and encourage them to paint the paper with different shades of blue watercolors to create the look of the ocean. After painting the paper, set out stickers of ocean-shaped creatures, such as fish, lobsters, crabs and whales, and have children place the creatures on the paper. Have children glue pieces of green crepe paper streamers onto the paper to create the look of seaweed. To complete the pictures, glue a piece of blue plastic wrap over the top of the picture to make it look as if the picture is covered with water.
Sand makes up a large portion of the beach, and with this project, students can use sand to create textured pictures. Set out different colors of sand in bowls. Fill small cups with craft glue and provide children with paintbrushes. Instruct children to dip their paintbrushes in the glue and use it to draw images onto a piece of paper. After creating their glue images, have children sprinkle different colors of sand over the paper. The sand will stick to the glue, giving the images children have drawn color and texture.
Have children decorate different aquatic animals. Provide children with printouts of images of different beach animals -- fish, whales, dolphins, seagulls and crabs, for example. Set out pieces of different colored construction paper and instruct children to tear the construction paper into small pieces. Have them glue the torn pieces of paper onto the animals, giving them color and dimension. Punch holes in the top of the animals and loop yarn through the hoops. Hang the beach animals around your classroom to give it a beach feeling.
Create a sensory bottle that children can use to get an up-close look at waves. Remove the labels from and wash out empty water bottles. Provide children with sand and coffee scoops. Instruct children to place a scoop of sand into their bottles. Help them fill their bottles with oil and water. Place a few drops of blue food coloring into the bottles; the food coloring will dye the water blue. Tightly secure the caps back on the bottles and wrap them with super adhesive tape. Encourage children to hold their bottles on their sides and move them back and forth. The contents of the bottle will move about, creating the look of waves.