From making campfires and shelters to drawing in the sand and making beach mosaics, this comprehensive guide is packed with ideas and activities for children of all ages, who are shown how to play safely and responsibly in a beach environment.
Blue Health is the positive impact that water environments (such as oceans, lakes, and rivers) have on our well-being. It is as beneficial for children as it is for adults. Beach school uses a play-based approach in this setting to encourage children to explore their interests and develop their creativity, communication and problem-solving skills.
The varied activities include rockpooling, making wild food, navigation and survival skills, map reading, storytelling, crafts and games.
INTRODUCTION 6
Blue Health 8
Safety 10
Kit 12
Choosing a beach 16
Plastic pollution 18
Recycled plastic mats 19
Seashore Code 20
Citizen Science Projects 21
CHAPTER OPENER Wild Beach Survival Skills 22
Tides 24
Weather 26
Measuring the wind 28
Cloud spotting 30
Make a kite 31
Simple knots 32
Shelter building 34
Make a fire 40
Map reading 42
Using a compass 44
Navigating by the stars 45
Finding North 46
Make your own telescope 48
CHAPTER OPENER Beach Discovery 50
Why learn about beaches 52
Mindful activities 54
Paddling & pebble fun 56
Scavenger hunt 58
Rockpooling 60
Make your own aquascope 62
Identifying flora and fauna 64
Using identification keys 66
Flora and fauna activities 68
Make a flag 76
Make a raft 78
Journey sticks 80
Bird watching 82
CHAPTER OPENER Beach Games 84
Limpet and seagull game 86
Anemone game 87
Overfishing game 88
Longshore drift 89
Shrimp, Shrimp, Prawn 90
Scavenging seagull game 91
Echolocation game 92
Maze 93
Obstacle course 94
Treasure hunt 95
Food chain game 96
Capture the flag 97
Bucket relay & biggest hole 98
Noughts and crosses & Kims game 99
ABC ocean game & beach bingo 100
CHAPTER OPENER Beach Crafting 102
Sand Castles 104
Beach sculptures 106
Drawing & writing in the sand 108
Family/self portrait 110
Mobile 112
Dream catcher 114
Jewellery 116
Beach wreaths 118
Seaweed prints 120
Shell & pebble art 122
Seascape inspired art 124
CHAPTER OPENER Storytelling 126
Story sticks 128
Story circle 130
Poetry 132
Sea shanty 134
CHAPTER OPENER Positive Behaviour 136
Why are these needed? 138
Instruments & rhymes 139
Follow my rhythm 140
Tacky toes 142
If you can hear my voice 144
CHAPTER OPENER Wild food and picnic Ideas 146
Health and safety 148
Kit 150
Safe storage 152
Food ideas 154
Foraging seaweed 156
Index 158
About the author and acknowledgements 160
Georgina Maw is Head of Education at Final Straw Foundation, a charity dedicated to the health of the UKs coastlines, based in Hampshire, UK. She was a primary school teacher for 13 years, specialising in geography. Georgina uses her knowledge and love of coastlines to lead fun, inspiring and engaging beach school sessions for children along the south coast of England. The beach school sessions focus on developing a sense of stewardship in the children. Georgina is dedicated to educating and helping communities to reduce single use plastics which pollute our rivers, seas and beaches. When shes not on the beach, she loves spending time in the great outdoors and taking her husband and two children along for the ride.
