Nursery World - Shore things (1)

Discover the vast possibilities for play and learning in a treasure trove of shells. Jean Evans suggests activities Ashell collection is a valuable natural resource in any early years setting. Encourage the children and staff to bring in examples of shells they find on holiday or during visits to the seaside, and extend this collection by buying a few larger shells with unusual shapes or textures (www.specialistaggregates.com has a wide selection). Ensure that all the shells are washed thoroughly in hot soapy water and dried well before the children handle them.

Ashell collection is a valuable natural resource in any early years setting. Encourage the children and staff to bring in examples of shells they find on holiday or during visits to the seaside, and extend this collection by buying a few larger shells with unusual shapes or textures (www.specialistaggregates.com has a wide selection). Ensure that all the shells are washed thoroughly in hot soapy water and dried well before the children handle them.

Children have natural curiosity about their world, and a project on shells is an exciting way to stimulate this curiosity. For children to gain maximum benefit from this project, consider ways of providing a variety of shells to encourage child-initiated imaginative ideas and investigations in different play areas.

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