Fun and Educational Beach Activities

Learning doesn't have to be put on hold just because school's out! Your beach family vacation can be full of fun and exciting learning experiences for your children. When the kids get tired of building sand castles and playing with sand molds, try a few of these popular ideas for a fun and memorable summer vacation that educates!

Fun Beach Games

Besides the traditional beach toys and games your children already love, try a few of these new twists on old summer favorites.

Beach Geology

Use a magnifying glass to investigate the sand and shells you find at the beach. Compare dry sand grains with wet and explore the various lines and small creatures that may be on your shells. Collect a variety of shells and have fun sorting, matching, and comparing the shells.

Beach Darts

Draw a large dart board in the sand, assigning points to each section of the board. Use the seashells you have gathered to play darts on the beach. Keep track of everyone's points and set a certain number of points that must be reached to win the game.

Squirt ball

Divide your family into two equal teams and give everyone a big water gun completely filled. Draw goal lines in the sand behind each team and place the beach ball in the center of the lines. Each team should try to squirt the beach ball across the other team's goal line, keeping the ball away from their own goal line and without using any hands or feet.

Making Fresh Water at Sea

Collect a small amount of water from the ocean in a large bowl. Place a small, plastic cup in the center of the bowl. Make sure the cup is not taller than the bowl, but is taller than the water line. Cover the bowl and cup tightly with plastic wrap and place a heavy rock or shell on top of the glass. After a few hours in the sun, the water will begin to evaporate, creating condensation on the plastic wrap and then filling the cup with fresh water while the salt is left behind.