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SUPER SHELLS

SHELL ART
Invite your children to do one or more of these activities.
Make sculptures by gluing shells onto small rocks or pieces of wood.
Trace around shells with crayons or markers to make designs on paper.
Create beach scenes by gluing sand and small shells on blue paper.

PASTA SHELL ART
Set out several colors of paint along with uncooked pasta shells. Have your children paint the shells and allow them to dry. Then let them glue the colored shells onto heavy paper any way they wish to make collages. To extend the activity, encourage the children to use some of the shells to create color patterns.

SHELL GAMES

Provide an assortment of shells for trying these ideas with your group.
Sort the shells by kind, color, or size.
Count the number of clam shells, oyster shells, and so forth.
Line up the shells from smallest to largest or in patterns.
Guess how many shells are in a bucket. Count together to check your estimate.

SAND AND SHELL PLAY
Set out a tub of dry sand. Select several distinctive-looking shells and bury them in the tub. Then invite your children to search for them.
Add water to the sand in a plastic tub. Let your children make designs or patterns in the damp sand by pressing on different kinds of shells

BEACH WALK
Take your children on a walk along the beach to collect shells. Talk about the various kinds they find. Also collect other beach materials, such as sand, pebbles, dried seaweed and grasses. When you return, let your children glue their shells and other beach materials onto plastic-foam food trays. Or have them work together to make a beach collage on a large piece of cardboard.

LEARNING ABOUT SHELLS
Set out books that contain pictures of common shells. Help your children use them to try identifying some of their own shells or shells that you have on display. Explain that animals once lived the shells and talk about those that are familiar. For a creative extension, ask the children to imagine that they are small water animals. What kind of shells would they like to live in? Why?

DOWN AT THE SEASHORE
Tune: "Down by the Station"

Down at the seashore
Early in the morning,
See the little seashells
Lying in the sun.
See the happy children
Coming out to count them.
One, two, three, four,
Off they run!
Elizabeth Scofield

PASTA SHELL SNACKS
Cook pasta shells according to the package directions. Then try one of these ideas.
Place the shells in small bowls and let your children spoon on pasta sauce and grated cheese.
Allow the shells to cool, add chopped veggies, and toss with a favorite salad dressing.