Land and Water Forms at the Beach (Photo from Chasing Cheerios)
If you have the chance to visit the beach yet this summer, you can start your school year with a fun Montessori geography activity that requires very little preparation or expense. And if you can’t go to the beach, a sandbox will work well also.
I have a previous post with ideas for creating Montessori land and water forms for introducing preschoolers to island and lake, peninsula and gulf, cape and bay, system of lakes and archipelago, and isthmus and strait. Land and water forms are one of the more difficult DIY Montessori materials to make, however.
You can save yourself time and expense by using the idea from Chasing Cheerios of creating land and water forms at the beach or in a sandbox using a large aluminum container (photo at top of post). If you add blue food coloring (and maybe miniature boats) to the water along with miniature plastic animals to the sand, you can have even more fun.
Land and Water Form Extensions and Directions
Land and Water Form Photo Book (Image from Montessori Print Shop)
In addition to other land-and-water form materials, Montessori Print Shop has an inexpensive Land and Water Form Photo Book, which would work especially well as an extension.
Montessori for Everyone has inexpensive Land and Water Forms Command Cards which are a great extension for children who have mastered the land and water forms.
Land and Water Form Snacks and Cards
My previous post on land and water forms has more links for land-and-water-form cards and directions for presenting land and water forms. And don’t forget the fun extension of creating land and water forms on graham crackers with blue icing!
Of course, for the best description of how to introduce land and water forms along with activities to extend the study of land and water forms, sign up for my mailing list. Then you’ll receive a free download of the American Montessori Society Geography Album by Karen Tyler of World Wide Montessori Online. It’s an amazing 177-page album covering Montessori geography activities for ages 2½-6.
Have fun with land and water forms at the beach – or in your mini beach in a sandbox that has sides and a bottom!
Montessori Monday Link-Up
Nicole from One Hook Wonder and I are the co-hosts of Montessori Monday. Be sure to visit Nicole’s blog if you haven’t yet today! If you have some Montessori ideas/lessons to share, please link up below. Please also place the Montessori Monday button (using the code from the right sidebar) in your post or put a link back to this post. Thanks for participating! 🙂
What a great activity/learning tool!
Thanks, Sheila! I always loved the Montessori land and water forms – and I love the idea from Chasing Cheerios to take it to the beach! 🙂
Great ideas! If only there was a beach where I live. Thank you for sharing.
Thanks for your comment! I love the idea of studying land and water forms at the beach, although a sandbox would be fun, too! 🙂
I absolutely love this little snack idea to go with the land formations. I pinned it so that I remember to use it when we get there in our studies. Thank you for sharing! 🙂
Thanks for your comment, Jessica! I fell in love with the snack idea when I first saw it, too … and it’s great that you can make an easy version or a healthier version by experimenting with natural food dyes! 🙂
We’re heading to the beach next month. Thanks for giving me great ideas on how make our trip educational. I’m also looking forward to writing letters in the sand. Should be fun!
Thanks, Lori! I’ll look forward to reading about your experiences at the beach! 🙂
We will have to try this the next time we go the lake. Land and water forms are by far one of Short Pants’ favorite materials!
Thanks for your comment, Nicole! That should be especially fun for him – I thought it was such a great idea from Chasing Cheerios! 🙂
I love your projects! My son is starting Preschool on the 22nd and I think he leans better using the Montessori technique =)
Cant wait to do some of these projects with him. When I first choose to homeschool my husband was concerned about the kids being “weird” but it all change when I showed him your daughters page and what your children have accomplished =)
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Crisc! I’m so happy my kids’ examples could help your husband feel more comfortable with homeschooling! My husband, kids, and I are definitely thankful for our homeschooling experiences! 🙂
Thanks for the link and the mention, Deb! Great ideas!
My pleasure, Lori! Have a great rest of the week! 🙂
Stopped by from the hip homeschool hop. You’ve got a fabulous blog here! I love the project above. Very cool! 😉
Thanks so much for your kind comment, Adrienne! 🙂
Great ideas! I think my girls would love the graham cracker and frosting activity!
Thanks for your comment, Callie! Have fun! 🙂
I will definitely be utilizing this! I think the land forms are great and children always love them. Great ideas here!
Thanks, Jessica! I’m a real fan of the land and water forms and love that there are so many variations and extensions available! 🙂
JDaniel has been dying to go to the beach. I could make him a virtual beach!
Thanks! That’s a great idea! 🙂
I was very impressed with the Montessori graham cracker and icing landforms. What a delicious way to internalize (no pun intended)a lesson! heheheh. Your website is one of life’s great joys….thanks for all you do!
Thanks so much for your very kind comment, Mary! (I just found it.) 🙂
what kind of book would you incorrporate for the land and water form trays, to teach a lesson plan
?