Children may have an interest in shells after visiting a beach. They may have collected shells to take home. They can use shells for decoration, loose parts or art activities.
Early childhood educators can teach children that shells were once home to tiny animals. Their bodies were so soft, they grew a hard shell for protection. We usually find seashells empty, because the animal has died and the shell has washed up onto the beach.
EYLF learning outcomes
As a natural material (4.4) that inspires curiosity, imagination and creativity (4.1), sea shells can be used in the Early Years Learning Framework. Shells can teach children about social responsibility and respect for the environment (2.4). They can initiate inquiry, hypothesising, researching and investigating (4.2).
Learning experiences
Create shell artworks
Early childhood educators can inspire children's art by showing them works by other artists. The following artworks are very different to each other, but each one has the theme of shells:
- Conch Shells is a glass artwork by Lot 126. Can you make a sculpture of a shell? What material will you choose?
- Scallop Shells is an oil painting by Scott Fraser who has included a lot of detail. Can you include detail in a drawing or painting?
- Five Sea Shells is a painting by Janet Pedersen. She used the paint type flashe which is a vinyl paint that is smooth and flexible. Do you like the colours she chose? Can you use similar colours to paint shells?
If your children have enough shells to use in art and making experiences, try these ideas:
- Create a shell mosaic or collage.
- Use shells as stamps for painting.
- Paint shells to make miniature artworks. Use cotton buds as paint brushes for fine detail.
- Some shells have holes in them. Thread string through to make a shell necklace.
- Make musical instruments by attaching shells to strings or sticks for percussion.
- Decorate potted plants with shells as garden ornaments.
- Fill a jar with shells to create a calming sensory jar.
Combine shells with sand
Sand and shells combine perfectly! In the early childhood classroom, place them with sand and other beach items in a sensory trough. In the sandpit, children can build sandcastles and decorate them with shells. Then they can hide the shells for a friend to find and pretend they are buried treasure.
Play cognitive games with shells
- Sort shells by size, shape and colour.
- Create shell patterns and designs.
- Incorporate shells into block building.
- Arrange shells into the formation of a letter or number.
Pretend shells are something else
Shells can represent a variety of things. Encourage children to use them in pretend play. They could be miniature boats or coins.
Resources
Websites
Curious Kids: How are shells made?