Want a mission for your next beach day? Try finding a seashell with a natural hole in it. (These are often caused by various predators trying to get to the creatures inhabiting the shells.) We then used our shell (or in our case a fragment) to make a keepsake of our beach holiday!
Materials
- Shell with a hole
- Elastic beading cord
- Beads
- Scissors
- Soap & water (*Optional: to wash the shell)
Directions
- With an adult, look for a seashell or several that have a natural hole in them. Wash your shell(s) with soap and water and allow to dry overnight.
- Lace your shell(s) and beads onto your cord, creating a necklace or bracelet, tying a knot at end and trimming off any excess.
- If you would like to further this project, find out what kinds of predators make these holes and the reason why. We enjoyed learning about this during an aquarium visit.
- Enjoy your necklace as a reminder of your beach day!
Purpose
- Getting out into nature with a specific intent in mind
- Learning about food chains (prey, predators) and what techniques various creatures might use to obtain food
- Developing one’s fine motor skills- lacing, cutting etc.
- Possibility for pattering (for example, alternating various bead attributes such as size, colour, number in a sequence etc.)
Safety Notes
- Use scissors with care and adult supervision.
- Cord, yarn etc. can be a strangulation hazard, therefore be sure to use with direct supervision and for its intended purpose. Be sure to remove your necklace during play (e.g., the playground) or use a safety magnetic release clasp for younger children, rather than tying a knot.
- Beads can be a choking hazard therefore be sure to keep them out of the reach of children ages 0-3 years of age or those that tend to put things into their mouths.
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