A Beach Day Without Leaving School
The teacher leads a pretend beach day: packing the bag, crossing the hot sand, jumping waves, building sandcastles and playing paddle ball. Children act out actions and objects in pretend play that moves through different speeds and energy levels.
How to play
- We pack our bag (towel, bucket, shovel) and put on sunscreen all over, not forgetting ears or feet (2 min).
- The sand is hot: we tiptoe-hop down to the water, blowing on our feet (2 min).
- Into the water: we jump the little waves and, when the teacher warns of a big one, we jump really high; then we swim with our arms (3 min).
- Sandcastle: we dig, fill the bucket, flip it over and decorate it; crabs walk by and we copy them going sideways (3 min).
- In pairs, we play paddle ball with an invisible ball, trying not to let it drop (3 min).
- Lying on our towels in the sun, we dry off and listen to the ocean (2 min).
Rules
- I do beach things with my whole body.
- In the waves, I jump in my own spot, no pushing.
- In paddle ball, the ball is pretend but the swing is real.
- At the end, I lie on my towel and rest.
Variations
Easier
For 3-year-olds, skip paddle ball, and the teacher models every action with everyone together.
Standard
For 4-year-olds, the whole day including paddle ball in pairs.
Harder
For 5-year-olds, the kids suggest other beach activities (looking for shells, getting buried in sand, the outdoor shower) and we act them out.
Adaptations
- Limited mobility: does sunscreen, swimming, sandcastle and paddle ball seated; waves are jumped with the arms.
- Hearing loss: the big-wave warning is the teacher raising both arms high.
- Autism: tell the day with pictures in order (bag, sand, water, castle, paddle ball, towel) and point to each step.
Learning goals
- Act out actions and objects from a familiar experience.
- Change the speed and energy of movement.
- Coordinate movements with a partner in paddle ball.
Teacher tip
Ask beforehand who has been to the beach and let them share; show a photo for those who haven't. It works best when you narrate in the present tense with details (“Oh no, that wave splashed me!”).
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