Beach activities for KS2 pupils

THEMESIf your year group is studying rivers, coasts and seas, the local area or

comparisons with other localities then a trip to the beach can be educationally rewarding. The following activities are a guide for what you can

plan for your pupils whilst on the beach. 1.Take in the locality

(Cross curricular link: Art/History/Geography/Science)Take your class sketch books with you and ask the pupils to fold the pages into 4 sections. You can then create a series of sketches based on categories that you

choose e.g.Each section could depict a mood- what makes you happy about the area? What

makes you excited? Each section could depict an area of the coast- sand, sea, sky etc

Each section could depict a material-man made, plastic, wood, metal. 2. Sand Sculptures

(Cross curricular link: Art, Science, PHSE and Geography)Divide your class into groups of 4/5 and the children in their group have to

choose a subject to create a sand sculpture e.g. sea creatures, boats, bucket and spade etc.

Set a time limit and outline what the children can use in the beach to create their sculpture. To make it more interesting the groups can keep their

sculpture subject a secret so the groups can go round and guess what the sculpture is.

Ensure pupils do not put their hands in their months during this activity and must wash their hands after the activity. 3. Treasure Hunt

(Cross curricular link: PHSE)After a inspection visit to your beach you can create a treasure hunt for pupils to find various objects on the beach e.g. a shell, twigs. Split the children in groups

and they have to work as a team to find these items in the fastest time.

4. Trust games(Cross curricular link: PHSE and Maths)

Split children into pairs and children to blindfold the other part of the pair and have to guide their partner across the beach. The pair must use directional

language e.g. right, forward, clockwise.

5. Senses poetry(Cross curricular link: English and Geography)

Hand out some lined paper split the class into five groups: sound, touch, sight, taste etc and asked the children for five minutes to find a place on the beach to sit and not to talk to anyone but to jot down words associated with their group. Call the

groups together and collect their ideas, write up on large paper if possible and then children to choose their favourite word from each group to help compose their

poem. 6. Five things

(Cross curricular link: History, Geography)Give children a small sandwich bag and tell them in 5 minutes they have to find

5 things that they think are particularly interesting. Then split the class into two groups and one group goes through what they have found and why and

then they swap with the other group.

Ensure pupils do not put their hands in their months during this activity and must wash their hands after the activity.

7. Local coast history(Cross curricular links: History, Geography)

As part of your pre-inspection visit gather some pictures of artefacts that are associated with your beach e.g. fishing net, etc and include some one that are not. In groups children

have to decide which is the artefact not associated with the area.

8. Crabbing and sea dipping(Cross curricular links: Science)

Bring some crabbing lines, bacon etc as well as nets, pooters and magnifying glasses for children to use. As part of your pre-visit preparation you may want to laminate coastal creatures information so children can identify the creatures their find. Ensure that the

animals/’creatures are not hurt, poked about with and are returned to their habitat once identified.