Pebbles & Driftwood

On most beaches, you will find a selection of pebbles. Notice how many of these have been rounded and made very smooth by the effect of the sea rolling them around. Point out how dull most pebbles look when they are dry and how beautiful when wet. You will often find driftwood on the beach. Notice how this has also been made very smooth by the action of the waves and is sometimes molded into the most beautiful shapes. Do these shapes remind your child of anything in particular?
Ask your child to describe some dry pebbles on the beach. What color are they and are they shiny or dull? Ask him to put the pebbles in a bucket full of water. What do they look like when he takes them out of the water? What has caused them to look so different? Can you child think of other things which look very different when they are wet or dry? (Roof tiles, paving stones, kitchen floors).