Materials
Large table Signs for seashore shells, river rocks
Plastic baskets for rocks Two clear plastic shoe boxes
Blue paper strip made wavy to look like water
Instructions
1. Children and teachers bring in samples of shells and/or rocks and display them on two sides of a table with the appropriate signs.
2. Compare each side of the table. Some observations about shells might be that many are rough from turbulent water, that their forms are more varied than rocks, that their colors are lighter than rocks and that they can break easily. The children may observe about the rocks that many are smooth from water gently running over them, that their forms are more uniform, their colors are darker and their forms are sturdier than shells.
3. Display some examples in water so their colors will darken, especially the river rocks.
4. Put smaller shells and rocks in the baskets and classify each one by size, shape and color.More to doArt: To make shell and rock paintings or prints, dip the shells and rocks into shallow containers of tempera paint and press them onto construction paper.Math: You can use the sorting activities suggested above as math exercises.
