Explore all that the ocean has to offer with this free printable beach scavenger hunt. A great way to learn about nature while having fun!
The ocean is one of my favorite places to visit. Not just during the summer months, but every month of the year.
There is so much to see at the beach during all four seasons.
If you are like me and enjoy exploring the seashore all year round, you are going to love this free beach scavenger hunt. Nature inspired and perfect for the warm summer months or those cold winter days!
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Jump to:
- Natural Beach Items to Find
- How to Play
- Skills to Practice
- Science Topics to Explore
- Additional Activities
- Terms of Use
- Downloadable Scavenger Hunt
- Comments
I created two different versions, one printable is a standard 8 ½ inches by 11 inches while the other one is half that size.
Either one is perfect to keep in the car for those spur of the moment beach adventures.
If you love scavenger hunts, make sure to check out these Printable Backyard Scavenge Hunts and Spring Scavenger Hunt!
There is something special about heading out on a scavenger hunt. Kids of all ages love the challenge of finding all of the items on the list.
Natural Beach Items to Find
- Seagull
- Snail
- Crab
- Empty Shell
- Green Kelp
- Brown Algae
- Red o Pink Algae
- Stacked Rocks
While I was tempted to add a sea star to the list, I wanted to make sure kids are able to find all of the items. Up here in New England, it is hard to find a star fish without venturing to the rocks at low tide.
As an avid beach goer, I know from experience that you can find these natural beach items all year long.
Even if you brave the beach on a cold winter day, you can find kelp and algae washed up along the shoreline.
Living and dried seaweed are really cool for kids to observe and learn about! Even in a small area, you can usually find a few different varieties.
Snails, rocks, and empty shells are also easy to find. To locate live snails, head over to the rocks and tide pools.
Then lift up the seaweed attached to the rocks. You can usually find barnacles along with snails under the algae.
How to Play
- Print off 1 scavenger hunt per child or pair of children
- Work together as a small group to find all of the items on the list
The best part about nature based scavenger hunts is there are so many opportunities for learning. Tackle one item at a time on the list and discuss what you find together.
Kids can bring along a nature journal and record sketches, written observations, or even collect a few samples.
As a parent, I love having a few go to activities ready to go. This beach themed scavenger hunt can be left in your beach bag and taken out on your next tip to the ocean.
Skills to Practice
- Identification
- Observations
- Communication
- Problem Solving
- Comparing and Contrasting
- Making Inferences
Games including scavenger hunts are a fun way to practice a wide range of skills. As your kids participate they are learning while having fun.
Related Post: Bug Bingo Game for Kids
Often times, kids are so excited about the items they discover they want to learn more about them. Taking a few minutes to observe will let you kids ask questions, make inferences, and learn about coastal ecosystems.
Science Topics to Explore
- Characteristics of Algae
- Coastal Ecosystems
- Marine Animals
- Marine Plants
- Weathering and Erosion
If you are homeschooling it would be fun to pair this activity with a few lessons about oceans and shorelines.
You can do this activity as an introductory lesson then plan future lessons based on the interest of your children.
Different types of seaweeds, snails, and even rocks are all topics you can explore!
Additional Activities
- Read a few great books about the beach
The Seashore is a beautifully illustrated children's book about visiting the beach. You and your kids will love the pictures within this story.
2. Coloring Pages
Snails and Sea Turtles are both fun designs for kids and adults. Print off a few and color in using you favorite art supplies!
3. Explore the Coast Together
As you walk around, talk about the different items you are finding. Kids can compare and contrast two shells as they make observations.
You can often find different types of plants and animals along the coast. And don't forget to just take in all of the sights and smells of the ocean!
These printable ocean flashcards can be used as ID cards when exploring together!
Terms of Use
These printables were created byNature Inspired Learningand are forpersonal use onlyfor your home, classroom, or public library. All of these free beach scavenger hunt is fornon-commercial use. See fulldisclosure.
Downloadable Scavenger Hunt
- A full size 8 ½ by 11 inch sheet along with a half sheet option. Both are printer friendly and contain minimal amounts of colored ink.
- PDF downloadable document that you can print off and use right away!
Ocean Scavenger Hunt - Download
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On the blog I create and share Nature Inspired Activities you can do with your kids. Perfect for preschool through upper elementary.
