Water Beads are SO Fun!
So I’m not sure if it’s the “teacher blood” coursing through me or if it’s purely my own love for teaching and learning but, without fail, each time we find something for our kiddos to experiment with I’m always trying to find a way to turn it into a learning experience. In this case, I stumbled upon these “Dew Drops” (aka Water Beads) recently and they are FAN-TAS-TIC! Not only are there PLENTY of beads for the price…they also come complete with marine life creatures–PERFECT for teaching while playing! Yay! Whether you’re seeking a teaching opportunity or are just looking for some “cool down time” this summer…these activities are right up your alley!
P.S.: There are Affiliate links associated within the ideas below! I receive a commission from such links…you can read more about that here in our Disclosure page.
Check out this printable for an easy step by step mini lesson: Water Absorption and Marine Life Lesson Plan with Worksheet!
As a quick hint for “teaching” these activities with your little ones:
- Start by discussing water absorption with the sponge water absorption activity below!
- Choose one of the books below on water absorption and/or the ocean to read aloud!
- Lead into water play with the water beads and marine life! The kiddos can explore/discuss water absorption as the beads take on water AND they can explore the marine creatures to the books you read about them!
Here are those awesome activities I was describing:
COOL Ocean Water Beads with Marine Creatures
After approximately 3 hours of absorption…
The beads are actually hard when you get them…and sooo tiny!
This is an AWESOME find! While the water beads take some time to absorb water (very similar to those “grow animals” you can “hatch” in water…the package says it will reach full absorption around 8 hours), we were still able to see changes in the beads fairly quickly. We also played with them plenty as they grew! The water beads are cool to the touch and are an amazing sensory activity!
Not only do these beads last a LONG time and provide countless hours of sensory fun for all ages, BUT they include marine animals as well! If you’re planning a trip to the aquarium this summer, you can easily complete this activity as a precursor to that trip!
Next Day! So Fun!
Science Connection:
Pair this activity with a brief discussion about absorption! Use sponges to demonstrate how certain materials “soak up” water and expand when water is taken in!
Here’s a visual/tutorial on how that might look from littlebinsforlittlehands
Here’s the “teacher-speak” background info about absorption:
Sponges are made of loose fibers with lots of space between them. The holes between the sponge fibers absorb the water, and so the sponge material swells up with water. This stops the water coming out of the sponge when you lift it out of the water. When you squeeze the sponge you are forcing the water out of the holes in the sponge.
A wet sponge will absorb more than a dry sponge as water molecules are highly attracted to one another!
Book Pairing Opportunity:
Pair this activity with these books on marine life and absorption to create your own mini lesson!
Here are some AWESOME titles our families love:
These pages actually MOVE as you turn them! The images “come to life” and include a description of each animal featured.
If you have a mini oceanographer, this book is for YOU! Filled with stunning photography and facts on every aspect of ocean life, this is a book that WON’T get put down!
We own a few of these AWESOME “First” books from National Geographic and we love them! This book about the ocean features 100 adorable animal photos facts about the creatures’ sizes, diets, homes, and more.
The REAL creature’s from Disney’s Finding Nemo/Finding Dory are featured in this book! All captured with beautiful underwater photography and cool info about our oceans! This book includes fascinating facts, maps, and marine conservation tips and efforts.
Adorable book that explains the usefulness of water! Step 1 Scholastic Reader.
Wrapping Up:
Whether you’ve decided have fun with water one day or you have a set plan in mind, remember that genuine teaching happens almost spontaneously! Let your kiddos be the “drivers” for any learning activity and it’s bound to go far!
Below are some are the resources we mentioned earlier! Have fun and if you have any questions or suggestions…we would LOVE to hear from you!
Teaching Suggestions for this Activity!
- Start by discussing water absorption with the sponge absorption activity below!
- Continue your discussion about absorption with water beads and the miniature marine life creatures! The kiddos can explore/discuss water absorption as the beads take on water! The miniature marine life creatures will spark conversation naturally!
- Kids can select one of the marine animals from the figurines then pair it with one of the books featured above!
- Choose a book from above to pair with a selected marine animal or have your kids select by just their own interest!
- Wrap up with an awesome trip to your local aquarium or a day at the beach!
Don’t forget this awesome FREE printable on these activities: Water Absorption and Marine Life Lesson Plan with Worksheet!