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You are here: Home / Themes / Summer / Seashell Art for the Senses

Seashell Art for the Senses

By Vin Giannetto Leave a Comment · This content may contain affiliate links.

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Seashell art and crafts are often very popular with young learners. The act of finding nature’s discarded treasures can capture a child’s curiosity and elicit excitement, wonder, and joy. As little hands gather and collect each unique and beautiful shell, creative shell theme ideas emerge. Maybe the shells can be painted, or strung together as a necklace, or perhaps glued together to make a sculpture. There are many ways shells can be used for learning and play.

Unfortunately, not all children have access to the shore. Today you’ll be making a fun seashell art project even if you can’t make it to the beach! Let’s create cardboard seashell cutouts by using a variety of unconventional art materials and techniques. Your child’s senses will be captivated as sight, touch, and sound are amplified and explored. Shiny metallic silver, pops and tings of sound, and tactile manipulation will all be right at your fingertips!

Shimmering Seashell Craft Project-Summer Seashell Art for the Senses
FIND ALL OF OUR SHELL ACTIVITIES IN OUR PRINTABLE LESSON PLANS FOR PRESCHOOL CLASSROOMS.

Seashell Cutouts for your Senses

Seashell Art and Music

As an elementary art teacher to young learners, my students are often overjoyed when sounds or beats are created through the art making process. Oftentimes it is a happy accident! As a Q-tip hops on the tinfoil a fun Ting Ting Ting sound is created. We often sing a fun, repetitive chant of “hop, hop, hop all over the tinfoil” as a reminder to follow the painting directions. When working with bubble wrap, it’s natural and satisfying to pop away the bubbles of air. Sound adds an additional layer of engagement while also soothing and/or focusing each little artist. The sound created by tying a set of bells to the end of a paintbrush may encourage students to stay engaged and motivated throughout the painting process.

Summer Art for Kids-Foil Seashell Art

Materials for Seashell Art Project:

  1. Cardboard or cereal boxes
  2. Tinfoil
  3. Marker
  4. Scissors
  5. Paint
  6. Q-tips
  7. Bubble wrap
  8. Brush
Materials

Step-By-Step Directions:

Draw and Cut!

Begin by sketching each shell onto a piece of cardboard or a cereal box. You may wish to have real shells on hand for observation and look up additional shells online or in a book. Cut out the shells. Parents may need to assist when cutting thick cardboard.

Draw and Cut

Wrap it Up!

Have your child inspect a piece of tinfoil. How do they react to the shiny color and slick texture? Cut a large piece of tinfoil and lay the seashell cutout on top. Wrap the tinfoil up and over the edges of the cutout. Use your fingers to bend, flatten, and attach the tinfoil securely. Use a marker to sketch the outline and details of the seashell. Refer to shell photos as needed.

Cover in foil

Pop & Hop!

Have your child investigate and manipulate the Q-tips and bubble wrap. Let them pop those little bubbles for a bit. Next, paint a small area of bubble wrap and print it onto the tinfoil shell.

Add details

As you lift up the bubble wrap small circles are left behind.

Add paint

Dip a Q-tip into paint and hop on the shell to add additional details. Experiment with the amount of pressure and paint used during this process. Various paint colors can be used throughout.

Add cotton swab details

Extend this Art Activity

  • What sounds did you create during the art-making process?
  • Compare and contrast painting with a Q-tip vs. the bubble wrap.
  • Review how each small circle of paint was created on each shell.
  • Imagine and explore what sea creatures used each seashell as a home.
Final Seashell Art

Art and Literacy

I recommend the book It’s a Seashell Day by Dianne Ochiltree as a companion to this lesson. The book takes the reader on a seashell hunt as the main character finds a variety of unique shells. The shells are sorted, counted, and displayed as nature’s beauty is highlighted and appreciated.

Seashell Art Summer Craft for Kids

I hope your child’s senses are elevated as they manipulate the tinfoil and create sound through the various painting processes. Art and music-making are a wonderful combination that are sure to bring joy to little artists everywhere.

We would love to see your unique and magical creations! Please tag @fantasticfunandlearning and @youngschoolartwithmr.g on Instagram!

CONNECT WITH VIN GIANNETTO

Learn more about Vin here on his author bio page. Follow along with him on Facebook at Young School Art with Mr. Giannetto and on Instagram @youngschoolartwithmr.g for art project ideas.

Fun Summer Art Projects for Kids

Click on the images below to see the full tutorial for each art project.

Fruit Prints Watermelon Summer Art Project and Craft for Kids
Recycled art for kids. Boats at sea summer art project and boat craft for kids #kidart #artproject #kidscrafts
Seashell Self-Portrait Art Project for Kids. Summer process art activity for preschool and kindergarten. #preschool #processart #kindergarten #selfportrait
Sandcastle Texture Art Project. Summer Craft for Kids
Paper Sculpture Relief Ocean Craft for Kids-Use everyday materials to create these unique kids' art projects #kidart #artprojects #oceancraft #summer #kids #preschool #kindergarten #elementary
Shimmering Shell Craft Project. Summer Seashell Art for the Senses

GET A FULL WEEK OF SHELL THEME LEARNING AND PLAY

Save time and get right to the playful learning with our printable lesson plan sets. Each set includes over 30 playful learning activities related to the theme, and we’ve provided different versions for home preschool families and classroom teachers so all activities are geared directly toward your needs.

This set includes active hands-on learning ideas and the following printables:

1) Collecting Seashells Counting Emergent Reader (three variations)

2) Dissolving Shells Science Experiment Recording Sheet (in color and b/w)

3) 0-35 Shell Theme Number Cards

4) Shell Roll and Graph Math Activity

5) Types of Shells Photograph and Label Cards

6) Alphabet Recording Sheet for Seashell ABC Hunt (3 versions in both color and b/w)

7) Seashell Shapes Mats and Activity

8) Beginning Sound Seashell Sort Activity

9) My Shell Words Sight Word Recording Sheets (in color and b/w)

10) A to Z Shell Theme Letter Formation Work Mats

GET YOUR LESSON PLANS

Shimmering Shell Craft Project. Summer Seashell Art for the Senses
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Filed Under: Art, Kindergarten, School Age, Summer Tagged With: shell activities

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Hi, I’m Shaunna!

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