Are you in the dog days of summer? We live in a part of the US that gets pretty hot and sticky come July and August. Kids who might have enjoyed some summer break in June are being to get a little bored sitting around inside because it’s too hot to go out. Attitudes break out. Arguments ensue. When this happens at our house, it’s usually a sign that we need a little more structure to our day. We need to *gasp* do some “school.”
If you’re still doing some homeschooling through the summer, but you want your summer to be more fun and less like “school”, fun unit studies are a good way to keep learning, and have fun while you’re doing it. With these books and activity resources, you can make a beach-themed unit study that’s academic but also lots of fun. Make sure you pick up my free step-by-step unit study planner here to help you create your unit study.

Books to read
Sun, Sun (toddlers and preschool)
Beach Bugs: a Sunny Pop-up Book (preschool)
Janice Van Cleave’s Oceans for Every Kid (elementary)
Ocean: a Photicular Book (preschool and up)
A Day at the Beach (early elementary)
S is for Sunshine: a Florida Alphabet (elementary)
Bats at the Beach (preschool and early elementary)
A House for a Hermit Crab (elementary)
Over in the Ocean in a Coral Reef (preschool and early elementary)
Seashells by the Seashore (elementary)
Websites to check out
Science Kids has a Fun Beach Facts page.
Find more beach information on this Science for Kids page.
At the National Geographic Kids site, kids can learn all about the ocean.
Watch this Science Facts for Kids video all about oceans and beaches.
Kids can learn fun facts about sand at this site.
This Curious Kids video is all about the habitats of the beaches found in Southwest Florida.
Activities and crafts to try
Got goodies you found at the beach? Kids’ Activities Blog has 21 crafts made from things you’ve gathered at the beach.
Left Brain Craft Brain has seven fun science activities that are beach themed.
Edventures for Kids has several science themes that you can talk about as you visit the beach ore learn about the beach.
Simple Fun for Kids has a free printable ocean creatures memory game for little kids. (with newsletter subscription)
Make this cute and simple Suncatcher Jellyfish craft from I Heart Arts N Crafts.
Find the recipe for sand slime at Little Bins for Little Hands.
I love this Ocean in an Egg Carton Craft from The Imagination Tree.
The Kindergarten Connection has a cute homemade summer play-do set that little and big kids will have fun with. (I want one!)

Pre-made beach unit studies and lapbooks
UnitStudy.com has a great unit study- Sunny Seashells– that will teach kids all about the sea shells they can find at the beach.
Homeschool Share has a free lapbook based on the book Hello Ocean.
Homeschool Activities has a great free ocean creatures unit study.
With these books and activities, you can make a fun beach unit study for summer learning. Don’t forget to grab the free unit study planner to help.
Does your family have any other favorite beach themed activities?
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