It is impossible to not smile while I watch my kids scamper in the waves. The sun warms my shoulders as I sit back in the sand. They run towards the waves and then away when a big one comes crashing into the shore. They roar with laughter and then run towards the water again.

This endless game is excellent physical activity and some pretty awesome sensory input, but is it more than that?

Are they actually learning anything at the beach or are they falling behind their peers bending over worksheets and IPad learning games?

If I learned anything from being at home with my kids it is that anywhere can be a classroom. A classroom, the actual physical room, is not needed. It serves a purpose to help organize large groups of kids, but it is not a key ingredient in learning.

Learning? Learning can happen anywhere. Even at the beach.

read also: 20+ Ocean Unit Ideas for K and First grade

What do you need to make the beach your classroom?

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Materials for Your Classroom

What to Bring Each Beach Trip

*Beach Blanket (this one is awesome!)

*Sand Buckets

*Sand Shovels

*Water + Snacks

*Sunscreen

Materials to Rotate

*Sand molds

*Kites

*Water spray bottles

*Plastic People or Animals

*Plastic Vehicles

also read:
8 Things to Pack in Your Beach Bag to Spark Creative Play

 Activity Ideas for Your Classroom

Literacy

• Beach Scavenger Hunt from Natural Beach Living
• Journal Writing: Journal about what you see or experience with your other senses at the beach. Doodle or write stories.

Math

• Sorting Seashells from Playground Parkbench
• Make Patterns with seashells

Science

• Beach Learning Activities from Little Bins for Little Hands
• Create a Ocean Nature Table back at home from Natural Beach Living
• 5 Ways to Explore Science at the Beach from KCEdventures
• Collect Shells, Rocks, Bugs and Look Closely
• Ocean Animal Unit from Bambini Travel

Creativity

• Make a Beach Collage from Crafty Kids at Home
• Create a Sand Castle or a Different Sand Structure
• Draw Pictures or Create Stories

Motor

• 15 Things to do with Kids at the Beach from Frog Mom
• Fly a Kite

But this is just a start. Some ideas to get the wheels turning. The real ideas will come from your kids.

What interests them?

What do they notice?

What questions do they ask?

And how can you take that further?

These are the questions that will create a classroom of curious, engaged learners – even at the beach.