Beach School - EYFS/Early Years activities, displays and ideas

Delve into our collection of fun and engaging resources which support exciting learning opportunities whilst exploring beaches. Please scroll down to browse.

Please note that both Editable (docx file) and non-editable (pdf file) versions are available for all ‘Beach School’ resources. (Editable files require Microsoft Word to work at optimum level and Non-Editable files require a pdf viewer.)

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Year Round ‘Beach School’ Resources

- Mindfulness/Senses

- Using natural items

- Learning about UK beach/coastal habitats & wildlife

- Movement Activity Challenges (perfect to inspire physical activity and role play on the beach…more here)

- Display Lettering

- Sand Play

- Weather Calendars (more themes here)

‘Beach’ related Theme & Activity Ideas by age (🥚0-3/🐣3-5/🐤5-7 years)

(Note: Ideas by age and stage below are merely a guideline. Please use your own discretion and knowledge of your children to ensure appropriateness of each activity and safety concerning any materials given.)

Possible Theme/Topic Titles

Designed to be age-appropriate, engaging, and versatile for use in early years settings or curriculum planning.

🥚Ages 0–3 Years (Simple, sensory-focused, familiar language)

- At the Beach - Beach Days - Fun in the Sun - Let’s Go to the Beach! - By the Ocean - Shells and Sand - Splash, Splash! - Waves and Water

🐣Ages 3–5 Years (Imaginative, exploratory, story-friendly)

- Seaside Adventures - Sun, Sand, and Sea - Down by the Shore - Beach Explorers - Building Sandcastles - Tales from the Beach - Who Lives in the Ocean? - Crabs, Fish, and Starfish - Shells and Shorelines

🐤Ages 5–7 Years (More complex ideas, environmental awareness, early science)

- Ocean Treasures - Life in the Tide Pools - Marine Life Magic - Under the Sea - Coastal Creatures - Waves and Wonders - Swimming with Sea Friends - The Big Blue Sea - Imaginary Island - Sea Creatures Big and Small - The Sandy Seashore - Beach Safety and Fun

Sensory & Exploratory Play

1. Beach Sensory Bin – Sand, shells, and water-safe toys in a bin to explore textures and practice scooping. (🥚0–3 years)

2. Water Play Station – Use buckets and cups to splash, pour, and float beach toys. (🥚0–3 years, 🐣3–5 years)

3. Ocean Slime or Gel Bags – Fill a sealed bag with blue gel, glitter, and small sea toys for squishy, mess-free fun. (🥚0–3 years, 🐣3–5 years)

4. Frozen Ocean Rescue – Freeze plastic sea animals in ice blocks and let children melt them with warm water. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)

Creative Arts & Crafts

1. Beach Finger Painting – Use yellow and blue paint to create sandy shores and ocean waves. (🥚0–3 years)

2. Paper Plate Sun or Jellyfish Craft – Use paper plates, paint, and streamers to create beach-themed art. (🐣3–5 years)

3. Shell Collage – Glue real or craft shells onto cardboard in patterns or shapes. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)

4. Design Your Own Surfboard – Decorate surfboard cutouts with markers, stickers, or patterns. (🐤5–7 years)

Music & Movement

1. Beach Dance Party – Dance with scarves or ribbons to tropical or ocean-themed music. (🥚0–3 years, 🐣3–5 years)

2. Animal Moves: Swim Like a Fish! – Pretend to move like sea animals (crab crawl, fish swim, dolphin jump). (🐣3–5 years)

3. Beach Ball Games – Simple toss-and-catch games or group circle games with a beach ball. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)

Story & Language Activities

1. Beach-Themed Story Time – Read simple stories like “Spot Goes to the Beach” or “Pete the Cat at the Beach.” (🥚0–3 years, 🐣3–5 years)

2. Interactive Story Basket – Use props (toy fish, shells, sunscreen bottle) while telling a story. (🥚0–3 years)

3. Story Sequencing Cards – Put beach-day pictures in order (e.g. packing, arriving, swimming, snack time). (🐤5–7 years)

Problem Solving & Discovery

1. Treasure Hunt in the Sand – Hide small objects in a sandbox and let kids dig and discover. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)

2. Sink or Float? (Beach Items) – Test whether shells, toys, and other items sink or float in water. (🐣3–5 years, 🐤5–7 years)

3. Beach Safety Sorting Game – Sort safe vs. unsafe beach behaviours using picture cards. (🐤5–7 years)

‘Beach School’ related topics

Related Special Dates

The Great British Beach Clean

The Great British Beach Clean is an annual event organised by the Marine Conservation Society (MCS), typically held in September. The event encourages thousands of volunteers across the UK to come together to clean beaches and collect data on the types of litter found. This data is then used to help tackle marine pollution and inform policies aimed at reducing waste, particularly plastic waste, in the ocean.

Key Aspects of the Great British Beach Clean:

1. Volunteer Participation:

   • The event invites individuals, families, and community groups to participate in cleaning up beaches. Volunteers remove litter, especially plastics, and record the types and amounts of waste they find, contributing to national data on marine pollution.

2. Environmental Impact:

   • The data collected during the beach clean helps shape important environmental campaigns and legislation. For example, findings from past beach cleans have supported policies such as the plastic bag charge and bans on microplastics in cosmetics.

3. Awareness and Education:

   • In addition to cleaning up beaches, the event raises awareness about the impact of human activities on marine environments, encouraging more sustainable living and waste reduction practices.

4. National Event:

   • The Great British Beach Clean takes place on beaches all over the UK, from remote shores to popular tourist destinations, making it a nationwide effort to protect coastal environments.

Why It Matters:

The event is not only about cleaning the beaches but also about understanding the source of the litter and using the data to create long-term solutions for ocean health.

For more information or to participate, visit the Marine Conservation Society's website.

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