Creating a sand bottle provides a safe way for youngsters to explore seaside materials. Fill a plastic bottle about half full with sand. You can use regular play sand or colored sand from a craft store. Add a few small shells to the sand to create interest. The shells encourage youngsters to turn the bottle and search for them. You can also add water tinted blue with food coloring to make an ocean in a bottle. Hot glue the lid closed for either option, so the kids don't unscrew the lid.
Seashells always interest small children and work well in a nursery program. Choose your seashells carefully. Small seashells present a choking hazard as young kids are likely to place them in their mouths. Seashells with sharp edges or points are also a potential hazard, so choose large seashells with smooth edges. Supervise children closely as they explore the seashells. You can also paint seashells so children can learn about different colors and develop their imagination.
Creating an ocean corner in a nursery room gives children a place to explore the seaside theme. Cut out waves from blue paper and hang them on the wall. Place a tan area rug on the floor to represent sand. Add pictures of sea animals on the walls and place stuffed animals, puppets and plastic toys that resemble sea animals in the corner. Board books about the seaside complete the classroom ocean environment.
Water play is entertaining and educational for small children. This activity is best for older infants and toddlers who can control their bodies and sit or stand. If the weather is nice, take the kids outside with shallow tubs of water. Give them cups, measuring utensils and other containers they can use to play with the water. Always supervise small children closely when they play with water.
Because it is edible, pudding paint is an ideal finger painting material for the nursery school level. Mix up a batch of vanilla pudding and use blue food coloring to make it resemble water. Have the kids apply the blue pudding onto a piece of paper to create the sea. You can also use chocolate pudding to make a beach on the paper. Children might also add some ocean-related stickers to create a seaside scene.