Once Upon a Mermaids Tail Invitation

The book Once Upon a Mermaids Tail by Beatrice Blue is about a boy with a big passion of collecting fish. One day he finds a tiny creature in a beautiful shell & takes her home to add to her collection. In the tank the creature gets weaker and weaker and the boy has to learn that she belongs in the ocean before it is too late. 

To recreate this story, in a tuff tray we set out fish + mermaid figurines, aquarium seaweed, seashells, rainbow aquarium rocks, volcanic rocks, plastic fish bowls, and provided water mixed with Colorations Metallic Paint to make the water magical! 

The children were invited to pretend they were the little boy in the story and recreate the story through sensory materials, figurines, and loose parts. This type of play is an integral part of the developmental learning process by allowing children to develop skills in such areas as abstract thinking, literacy, math, & social studies, in a timely natural manner. They are able to play & manipulate a variety of materials & textures that stimulate their mind & body while deepening their connection & understanding of the book.