At our beach, at our magic beach...

With not much of a summer to speak of this year, we spent the first few week of term making the most of what was left. Inspired by Alison Lesters Book "Magic Beach" we kicked off the term with a splash at Wellington Point exploring Our Magic Beach. Thankfully Father Sun came out to play and we had a beautiful morning and weeks to follow.

The water held an irresistable pull ...
"At our beach, at our magic beach, we swim in the sparkling sea,
surfing and splashing and jumpin the waves, shrieking and laughing with glee"

Then a bite to eat with a refreshing fruit salad and some wonderful healthy picnic treats - and a birthday to celebrate.

A play on the wonderful playground

Then a fossik along the shore...
"At our beach, at our magic beach, we walk when it's cloudy and grey,looking for driftwood, feathers and shells washed up on the edge of the bay"

A search for the hundreds of tiny crabs that we never quite got to as they disappeared down their holes before we could even get close...
"At our beach, at our magic beach, we search in the clear warm pools,peering at starfish, limpets and crabs, and tiny fish darting in schools"

__________

In the following weeks back at home we drew on our beach experience to create some beautiful experiences, play spaces and craft activities.

Our nature table held a collection of shells, coral, sea creatures and the beautiful Ocean Queen

A magical playscene and shells to play with in the playroom

A log, shells and seaweed from the beach formed a lovely backdrop to our circle time where we listened to the song of the sea.

Can you hear the seas song in this little shell?
Hold it up to your ear and listen, listen well
Swish-oo, swish-oo
The seashells song is from the silvery sea,
Where the waves roll in wild and free
Swish-oo, swish-oo

Shells in the sandpit become natural scoops and drawing tools.

We stitched and sewed with love some magical little felt seahorses at craft night.

We painted with watercolours inspired by the blue greens of the ocean
Blue wave from the sea, come and wash all over me

We also used some of collected items to create some interesting prints.

The shells we pressed into disks of clay to make shell fossils.

The children then chose some beads and pieces of driftwood from our collection to create beautiful beach mobiles.

A sweet reminder gently swaying in the breeze, of our Magic Beach!