• Skip to primary navigation
  • Skip to main content
  • Skip to primary sidebar

One Time Through

Parent smarter...not harder!

  • Home
  • About
    • Philosophy
    • Welcome to One Time Through
  • Positive Parenting
    • Character Series
    • Positive Parenting Book List
  • Play & Learn
    • Science Fun
    • Language
    • Math
    • Sensory
    • Arts & Crafts
    • Holidays
    • Printables
    • Love to Learn Linky
  • Privacy Policy
You are here: Home / Art / How to Use Ocean Shells to Teach Art and Math

How to Use Ocean Shells to Teach Art and Math

March 28, 2014 by Sue Lively

155 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Check out the instructions below for these fun math and art activities to do with shells.

Shells Art and Math

Sorting Shells

One of the easiest ways to get young children thinking mathematically is to engage them in sorting and counting activities. Grabbing their attention is probably the most difficult part. So use some new and interesting materials – like shells!

When we first took our shells out of the bag, Onetime (my 2.5 year old son) wanted to look at them and touch them of course!

We also took a minute to talk about all the different shapes and sizes and colours – and the fact that animals used to live in these shells, just like turtles! (Onetime really likes Franklin and has seen some live turtles at the local lake).

ShellsNext we sorted them into groups. There were conveniently 4 different kinds of shells in our bag. Basically, I held up one of each kind and asked Onetime to help me find the others like that one.

We ended up with our 4 piles. This is a great observation activity. Onetime had to really look closely at the shape and size of the shells to do this with me.  I had to give lots of hints too!

Sorting Shells

Graphing Shell Data

Next, I used a large piece of bulletin board paper to create a basic pictograph frame. I drew a picture of each kind of shell at the bottom of each column and showed Onetime how we were going to place all our shells on the graph – one to each square.

Shell Math PictographWhen we were done – we counted how many of each shell there were – and we wrote this number at the top of each column. Then I asked Onetime a few questions like: “Which shell has the most?”, “Which shell has the least?”, “What are the biggest shells?” “Which ones are the smallest?” All of these questions touch on important mathematical concepts.

Onetime was able to answer a few of these questions, others I provided the answer after waiting a bit. I once read somewhere that young children can take up to 10 seconds to answer a question, so I’ve gotten into the habit of counting to 10 in my head after I ask Onetime a question. I can’t tell you how many times he has given an answer right at the 10 second mark – it’s really true!

Ocean Shell Art

To finish up our shell fun – we did some art of course! I gave Onetime the Pirate Treasure Playdough we made for another project, and we put it in the treasure chest. I then told him to have fun putting the shells in the playdough – and voila! Ocean shell art!

Shell ArtHope you give this a try!  What kinds of sorting activities have you done with your kids?

To find other Math activities for young children, be sure to follow my Pinterest board at:
Follow One Time Through’s board Math for Kids on Pinterest.

To find even more fun and educational activities as well as positive parenting tips, follow me on Facebook and  Twitter.


Cheers,

http---signatures.mylivesignature.com-54492-148-B2524E373EB83CD9208A38EFC01C9FF5 (1)

155 shares
  • Facebook
  • Twitter

Filed Under: Art, Math Tagged With: ocean

Previous Post: « How to Make Paper Roll Pirate Dolls
Next Post: Interactive Felt Pirate Storyboard »

Reader Interactions

Comments

  1. christine williams says

    March 28, 2014 at 9:06 pm

    Awesome! got an email with notification to a new post on your blog site…good! Love C xo 🙂

    • Sue Lively says

      March 30, 2014 at 7:18 pm

      Great! Thanks for following Onetimethrough!

Primary Sidebar

Connect

  • Email
  • Facebook
  • Pinterest
  • RSS
  • Twitter

POPULAR

Recent Posts

  • How to Celebrate Connection on Valentine’s Day
  • How to Make a Beaded Wreath Christmas Ornament
  • How to Make Vacation Memory Stones
  • Colourful and Easy Wire Sculpture for Kids
  • The Best Canada Books for Kids of All Ages

Blogging Series

Character Series

Copyright © 2023 · Foodie Pro Theme by Shay Bocks · Built on the Genesis Framework · Powered by WordPress