The summer months certainly warrant a beach theme for your homeschooling fun!
Here are some fun ideas to bring this beachy-keen theme to life:

First, teach your children about the awesome Jellyfish. A link for a great website full of information on this cool creature can be found at:
www.dnr.sc.gov/marine/pub/seascience/jellyfi.html

You may need to paraphrase many of the facts for your younger homeschoolers, but the children will enjoy the diagrams and informational tidbits. After you teach some Jellyfish basics have your kiddos create a cute craft!

Jubilant Jellyfish

Materials Needed:

Various colors or white paper plates, medium sized
A selection of yarn and ribbon in different colors
Glue and Tape
Glitter and Confetti

Instructions:

1.Cut the paper plate in half. If it is already colored then you are set. If not, have your preschooler paint or color the plate. If he or she chooses to paint it be sure it is dry before completing the rest of the project.

2.An adult should staple the two halves together so the cut part is still open.

3.Decorate the open area of the plate with yarn or pieces of ribbon.

4. Offer the children the opportunity to decorate their jellyfish with additional glitter and or confetti, using the glue and a sprinkling of sparkle!

Read some beach books with your children to set the beach themed mood. Some fun read aloud books are:

Biscuit's First Beach Day by Alyssa Satin Capucilli

Beach Day by Mercer Mayer

A Day at the Seashore (Little Golden Book) by Kathryn Jackson

Beach Day (Max and Ruby)-Nickelodeon Book

Curious George Goes to the Beach by H. A. Rey and Margaret Rey



Super sand free snacks include gummy fish, goldfish, seashell shaped chocolates, pecan "sandies" cookies, seashell mac n' cheese, and berry beach smoothies with festive beach umbrellas. Here is a fun smoothie recipe to try with your homeschool crew:

Berry Beach Smoothie

Ingredients:

1 c. plain low-fat yogurt
1 c. frozen, mixed berries (strawberries, raspberries, blackberries, etc.)
1/2 c. orange juice
1 c. lowfat milk

Directions:

1.Combine all ingredients in a blender and blend until smooth.

2.Add more liquid (soy milk or orange juice) if the mixture does not blend easily.

3.Pour half of the mixture into a large paper cup and garnish with a beach umbrella!

Serves: 2

Sand Art is another fun craft to do with your homeschoolers also. Melissa and Doug offer some reasonably prices sets, and the children will love the hands on appeal of this craft. Utilize a sand and water table if you have one, or, better yet, visit the real beach if you are able!

Here are some of the wonderful resources mentioned above: