seashell scavenger hunt and identification flashcards: a stay-at-home activity for families

Who else is missing summer? We all know that taking a summer vacation as a family is a great way to make lasting memories. And as you begin planning your destination and searching for ideas, you might be on the lookout for free, kid-friendly activities.

With summer approaching, I'm bringing you today a seashell scavenger hunt checklist and some printable seashell identification flashcards, which are a great way to learn more about marine life even while sheltering in place.

So, if (and when) you can go to the beach, why not try a seashell scavenger hunt? Actually, if you have some seashells saved at home rom previous vacations, you can use them now too (like an Easter egg hunt, but with seashells).

And if you’re currently staying home with your family and still want an educational way to have fun, the printable seashell identification flashcards are the perfect activity. 

On one side of the flashcards is a picture of a shell, and on the flip side is the animal’s scientific name, class, size, and a fun fact. Once your kids memorize these seashells, seashell identification will be a breeze!

The printable scavenger hunt lists 16 common seashells. If you can go to a beach and actually search for seashells, consider the following seashell hunting best practices:

• Start early in the morning before the shore is picked over by tourists.
• Search where the sand is wet to find newly deposited shells.
• Bring a fine mesh bag so your shells stay dry and mess-free.
• Never take a shell that still has its animal living inside 

And believe me, this last point can happen. My husband did that once. He found a beautiful seashell in a pool of shallow water, picked it up and gave it to me. When the poor animal peeked out to see who was disturbing his wold, it scared me into next week (he was put back in place, of course, but since then I always warn my kids to be careful).

And while you are stuck at home like us (living ten minutes away from the beach but actually unable go there), you can have fun with seashell identification flashcards. Let's hope we can all go back to our normal lives as soon as possible.

To download the free seashell identification printables, click here.

Have fun, and happy Wednesday,

This post was written in partnership with Florida Panhandle. Printables and images were supplied by them and as such are not owned by me, nor am I responsible for their content.