Ocean, Sea and Beach Themed Crafts for Kids {The Sunday Showcase 6/28/14}

Summer is a wonderful time to explore an ocean, sea or beach theme with children. There are so many wonderful creatures to learn about. For this week's Sunday Showcase I thought it would be fun to share some Ocean, Sea and Beach Themed Activities that caught my eye in last week's Sunday Showcase.

Click any of the links below for the full post and how-to's 

on these Outdoor Activities for Kids shared on last week's linky.

20 Sea Animal Crafts

(There's Just One Mommy)

Ocean Slime

(Buggy and Buddy)

Beach Books for Summer

(The Jenny Evolution)

Icy Ocean Sensory Play

(Little Bins for Little Hands)

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Here are a few of our favorite Ocean, Sea and Beach themed posts:

Beach & Ocean Books for K thru 2nd Grade

Shaving Cream Marbleized Sea Horse

Easy Handprint Fish

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Looking for more ideas?

Don't forget to peruse our Pinterest Board -

Ocean, Sea and Beach Themed Fun Pinterest Board

I love pinning awesome ideas from around the web for my girls to try.

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Now it's your turn to share!

Do you have fun Patriotic Activity ideas to share? 

Please share them with me in the linky, 

by commenting below or by visiting our Facebook page. 

Be sure to link up your child centered ideas while you're here.

I love to see what everyone is doing.

If you have been featured, grab a button you deserve it!

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The Sunday Showcase is hosted on FOUR blogs!

Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Here Come the Girls

Inspiration Laboratories

JDaniel4's Mom

Each blog showcases their own features so be sure to check them all out!

If you are here for the first time please read this informational post for the full details.  Anything kid friendly and/or child centered is welcome!  You are welcome to share more than one post,  but we don't accept links for giveaways,  shops, or downloads for purchase, etc.  They will be deleted.

If you're linking up we encourage you to visit other links 
& our Pinterest board!  

*Important* 

Please note that by linking up you are giving us permission to use a photo (with proper link to you!) in our featured section and on our Pinterest board!  

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Link up and share your child centered ideas with us!

Bern

An InLinkz Link-up

Summer Fun and Activities for Kids {The Sunday Showcase 8/3/13}

I'm so excited to bring back the Sunday Showcase after our short hiatus for the month of July. Did you miss us? I certainly missed all the wonderful ideas that are always shared here by all of you and I'm so glad you found your way back to us!

Today, I'm featuring some of my favorite Summer Crafts and Activities for kids that you all shared on the Sunday Showcase in June. These are great activities to spend some time enjoying together during the last few weeks of summer.

Beach in a Bottle (House of Burke)

Ocean Themed Sensory Bin (Simply Mommie)

Sand Foam (Creative Playhouse)

Ocean Activities (Fantastic Fun and Learning)

Paper Roll Fish (The Craft Train)

Jellyfish Lunch (JDaniel4's mom)

 Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas:

Did you follow along with our 

Get Ready for K Through Play series?

Thank you to My Cute Graphics for the use of the superhero kids graphic.

                       Week 1: Developing Kindergarten Language Skill

Week 2: Top 5 Social Skills for Kindergarten Readiness

                       Week 3: Independence Skills

                       Week 4: Math Concepts

                       Week 5: Top Books for Beginning Readers

                       Week 6: 55 Ways to Make Handwriting Practice FUN

                       Week 7: 20 Alphabet & Phonics Activities for Kids

                       Week 8: 10 Ways to Help Kids Get Ready to Learn

If you're looking for even more inspiration check out our

Get Ready for K Through Play Pinterest Board

Do you have any tips, tricks or activities to share to help get kids ready for Kindergarten? Please share them with me in the linky and/or comment below.

If you have been featured, grab a button you deserve it!

-------------------------------------------------------------

The Sunday Showcase is hosted on FOUR blogs!

Mom to 2 Posh Lil Divas
Here Come the Girls

Inspiration Laboratories

Learn Play Imagine

Each blog showcases their own features so be sure to check them all out!

If you are here for the first time please read this informational post for the full details.  Anything kid friendly and/or child centered is welcome!  You are welcome to share more than one post,  but we don't accept links for giveaways,  shops, or downloads for purchase, etc.  They will be deleted.

If you're linking up we encourage you to visit other links & our Pinterest board!  

*Important* 

Please note that by linking up you are giving us permission to use a photo (with proper link to you!) in our featured section and on our Pinterest board!  

-------------------------------------------------------------

Link up and share your child centered ideas with us!

Bern

An InLinkz Link-up

Ocean Theme: Easy Handprint Fish

We LOVE Handprint Crafts (ok, really I do but the Lil Divas are always ready to comply!)

For our Ocean Theme I just had to make these adorable handprint fish.

I fist made these over 11 years ago with my very 1st preschool class!

It was a hit then & it was a hit now with my Lil Divas.

The Craft: Easy Handprint Fish

What You Need:

varied color paints

paint brushes

white paper

black permanent marker

What We Did:

1. Each Lil Diva decided what colors she wanted to use for her fish.

I was thinking 2 but they opted for the full rainbow, haha!

2. To make the fish paint the bottom of the palm nearest the wrist as the face in 1 color

Then, paint the remainder of the palm in another color.

Finally, paint the fingers in alternating colors.

(see pic below)



2. Make your handprint & allow drying time

3. Once the print has dried add an eye & mouth using black permanent marker.

I added their names & the date to our finished picture as well.

The Oldest Diva opted to make 1 rainbow fish and 1 clown fish -

She added air bubbles using her pinky dipped into blue paint - a fun little detail



These came out so cute & are really easy to do!

If you have younger kids I suggest using a minimal amount of colors -

the most time is spent painting their hands so if they are squirmy you will want to choose only 2 colors.

For more fun handprint & footprint crafts check out our:

Hand & Foot Print Bumble Bee

Hand & Finger Print Bunnies

Handprint Polar Bears

Handprint Leprechauns

Footprint Penguins

Books:

Enjoy,

Bern



Ocean Theme - Easy Paper Towel Roll Octopus

We are officially on vacation which means no crafts but we did do some fun activities before we left in preparation of one of our 1st stops - The Georgia Aquarium! :)

We did a mini ocean theme in between my packing, shopping and working - I planned so much more than we got around to doing so we will most likely pick up where we left off when we get back home but for now you can take a peek at the fun we did get have!

Craft - Easy Paper Towel Roll Octopus:

What You Need:

paper towel roll

(you can do a TP roll but the length of a paper towel roll gives nice long tentacles!)

paint

brushes

What We Did:

1. Paint your paper roll completely and allow to dry

(we did this project over 2 days)

2. Once your tube is dry cut lengthwise to make 8 tentacles

3. Using a pencil or marker roll each strip and then unroll so that it has a slightly curved look

4. Add dots to each tentacle - we used glitter paint but you can use marker, dot stickers, etc.

5. Add wiggly or draw eyes and a mouth & voila -

you now have a cute lil octopus friend!

Books:

If you know of any other fun octopus books be sure to comment & let me know!

For more fun TP Roll Crafts check out our:
TP Roll Rabbit
TP Roll Bumble Bee

Enjoy,

Bern

Ocean Theme - Tissue Paper & Foil Rainbow Fish Craft

I have always loved the book Rainbow Fish (though I know some people don't) - not only is it sparkly, with a beautiful fish for a main character - even though he is rather conceited in the beginning. I have always found that if told the right way it can help teach children about the importance of sharing, thinking about others and being a good friend. It really is all in the telling and what you decide to focus on.

I know there has been much debate on the fact that some think it actually has a poor message about buying one's friends, etc but personally, I am always suprised at how people either love or hate this book. I look at it from the view point of the child and frankly they always seem to find it mesmerizing and quite engaging. As a parent and an educator - every time I have read this book to children it has generated wonderful discussion on being selfish, not being a good friend, etc. The Lil Divas and I had a wonderful talk about being mean, not caring about others feelings and not being a good friend/sister. It was fabulous.

The Book:

The Craft:

What You Need:

white cardstock

tissue paper (various colors)

aluminum foil

glue

scissors

wiggly eye

black marker

What We Did:

1. I drew a fish template and cut one out for each Lil Diva using cardstock (it is thicker & more durable)

2. I also cut out tissue paper pieces for the tail, face and fins (I simply traced over the template) and the Lil Divas glued them on in the appropriate places.

3. I pre-cut various colored tissue paper scales and the Lil Divas glued them on - varying the colors throughout and adding a few foil scales here and there.

I encouraged overlapping so that the fish was completely covered in tissue paper scales.

4. We added a few foil strips here and there for a more glittery/sparkly effect. The Lil Divas opted to make  Rainbow Fish before he gave his scales away. You can also only use 1 foil scale to make the other version.

5. Add a wiggly eye (or draw one) and draw a mouth/smile using black marker and voila - you have a stunning Rainbow Fish!

They turned out so cute & they were really easy to make! :)

What is your take on the book Rainbow Fish? I am always curious to hear what other's think about this book!

Bern