Flannel Friday Beach Party

I created 3 felt board sets to go along with my Beach Party Storytime. I will use just one, Five Little Sandcastles, and save the other two for another time.

Five Little Sandcastles

Five little sandcastles built by the shore,

Along came a wave and WHOOSH!

there were four. 

Four little sandcastles built by you and me,

Along came a wave and WHOOSH!

there were three. 

Three little sandcastles built by me and you,

Along came a wave and WHOOSH! 

there were two. 

Two little sandcastles built in the sun,

Along came a wave and WHOOSH!

there was one. 

One little sandcastle built just for fun,

Along came a wave and WHOOSH! 

there were none. 

I believe I first found this rhyme at read1more.wordpress.com, but I've seen it on many other sites. I don't know the original author. 

I used sandpaper for my sandcastles. My artistic daughter designed them and cut them out for me. I discovered that if I used double-stick tape and attached scraps of sandpaper on the backs of the sand castles, that it worked just as well as velcro and better than flannel or felt. Very cool!

When reciting the rhyme I will use a blue scarf as the wave and swoosh it across the board to remove the castle. You could also pick a child or five children to take away a castle. 

I almost always leave my felt board set up after the storytime so children can play with the pieces.

Five Little Seashells

Five little seashells lying on the shore,

Swish! went the waves

and then there were four.

Four little seashells pretty as can be,

Swish! went the waves 

and then there were three. 

Three little seashells all pearly new,

Swish! went the waves

and then there were two.

Two little seashells lying in the sun,

Swish went the waves

and then there was one. 

One little seashell lying all alone,

I picked it up

and I took it home!

Apparently this is a traditional rhyme and you can find it in many places. I discovered it on Songs for Teaching: http://www.songsforteaching.com/hughhanley/5littleseashells.htm. 

I made my seashell set using photographs of real shells, laminated. I also made an identical little set for use on a felt storytelling glove. You could use real shells set on a lap board, or the floor if you have a small group. Wouldn't that be fun?

Five Cranky Crabs

Five cranky crabs were digging on the shore,

one swam into a net and then there were four. 

Four cranky crabs were floating in the sea,

one got tangled up in seaweed, then there were three. 

Three cranky crabs were wondering what to do,

one dug a deep, deep hole, then there were two. 

Two cranky crabs were warming in the sun,

one got scooped up in a cup, then there was one. 

One cranky crab was smarter than his friends,

he hid between the jagged rocks, that's how this story ends.

This is another rhyme that can be easily found with a keyword search. I found this version at preschooleducation.com