Seashore Scavenger Hunt Activity + FREE Printable

We are really into scavenger hunts at the moment. It’s a great way to spend some time exploring and learning about what’s around you. A few weeks ago we did a summer scavenger hunt in our local park and as we’re visiting the beach this week I thought I’d put together a seashore scavenger hunt to see what we can find on the beach.

We do love beachcombing and I’m a keen collector of sea glass, so beach combing is something we all enjoy. Last year the boy went rockpooling with the National Trust and found lots of interesting creatures in the rock pools of North Devon.

I’ve included a wide variety of things you can find on the beach in our seashore scavenger hunt. You might not be able to find them all, especially the slightly rarer things like sea glass and mermaid’s purses, but it’s worth taking a look to see what you can find. If you want to find out more about mermaid’s purses, they have lots of child-friendly information on The Shark Trust website.

Download your FREE Seashore Scavenger Hunt Activity Printable Here!

Seashore Scavenger Hunt Activity + FREE Printable

When it comes to sea glass, don’t pick any up that has got sharp edges, that’s just glass. Sea glass should look round and smooth like a coloured pebble; it’s a very special thing to find on the beach, but do be careful.

I’ve left some room for you to make any notes about what you might find on the beach. Doing a seashore scavenger hunt is a great way to start conversations with your child about nature and what kinds of things you can find on the seashore. Why not take along a net and a bucket and see what creatures you can find in a rockpool. How many different kinds of shell can you find and what creatures lived in them?

I always like to do a little bit of a 2 minute beach clean when I visit the beach. It’s easy to pick up the litter I find to put in the bin or recycle at home. It all helps to keep our beaches tidy and some litter out of the oceans.

If you enjoyed this scavenger hunt, you might like to try this Summer Scavenger Hunt.

Children’s Books: Six books about the Seashore

Going to the beach is an important part of our summer. Lazing on the beach, building sandcastles and going beach-combing and rock-pooling is something we really enjoy. The seashore is a great place to explore, you can find all kinds of creatures lurking in rock-pools and under rocks. Ahead of our beach holiday in Cornwall, we’ve been looking at books about the sea. Here are six of the best books about the seashore.

Six books about the Seashore

Secrets of the Seashore by Carron Brown is a wonderful “shine a light” book where you use a torch to reveal hidden detail in the illustrations. Spot the tiny shrimps hiding in the sand, see a shy crab underneath a rock and watch a jewel-like anemone open its tentacles in this gorgeously illustrated book of hidden habitats. It’s a lovely interactive way to discover more about the secrets of the seashore.

Children's Books: Six books about the Seashore

Sharing a Shell by Julia Donaldson. When Crab finds a new shell, he doesn’t want to share it with anyone – especially not a blobby purple anemone and a tickly bristleworm. But life in the rock pool proves tougher than Crab thinks and he soon finds he needs his new housemates. This Julia Donaldson book has a lovely rhythmic style and beautiful illustrations which makes this real favourite of ours.

Seashore Watcher by Maya Plass. What lives on the beach? What lives in the shallow water? Can you track a Fiddler Crab? Learn how to spot tracks, identify markings and discover secret hideaways at the seashore. This book is packed with fascinating facts and lots of activities. It even comes in a waterproof ziplock bag to keep it safe and dry during your seashore expeditions. This is a great seashore spotter guide.

The Seashore (Usborne Beginners) by Lucy Bowman. This is an essential book for Key Stage 1 readers, and jam-packed with age appropriate information about the seashore. Which fish can breathe on land? Why do some crabs live in other animals’ shells? And what happens when seabirds drink too much sea water? Find the answers to these questions, and much more in this great beginners guide.

Magic Beach by Alison Lester is something of a seaside classic. Filled with fun rhymes and make-believe stories, this wonderfully illustrated children’s tale invites you to imagine a perfect beach where you can swim, surf, splash through the waves, make sandcastles, hunt for treasures, explore rock-pools, muck about in boats, fish from the jetty, and build a bonfire under the stars.

A First Book of the Sea by Nicola Davies is a spellbinding collection of poems about the oceans of the world and their shores. With this book, children can swim alongside dolphins and flying fish, explore rockpools and sail from pole to pole and back, learning about everything from phosphorescence and plankton to manta rays and puffins. It’s a lovely, imaginative way to explore the oceans of the world.

If you enjoyed this, you might also like our round up of books about turtles and books about the environment.

Children's Books: Six books about the Seashore