The day was sunny and warm.  A gentle breeze ruffled the waters of the Atlantic Ocean.  Seagulls scavenged the beach and numerous beach walkers padded soundlessly along the sand for their daily exercise.  Yes, it was a perfect day to relax, rest, maybe read a good book, and just settle down in a comfy beach chair to spend the morning on the beach of this beautiful island...

Oh, did I mention the thirteen 4 and 5-year-olds wielding buckets and shovels?
 

	Today was the day for the students of Miss Lourdes' preschool class to explore the wonders of the sands and discover the secrets of the waters surrounding this island paradise...  and discover they did, as only preschoolers can...
	First, a walk along the beach, looking for unique shells and items washed ashore by the ocean.  The children found a bamboo piece with barnacles and different types of seaweed. An interesting rock discovery inspired Miss Lourdes to show her students how the rock was formed over many years.
	A number of Portuguese Man-Of-War dotted the beach this morning, washed onto the sand by the onshore winds.  Miss Lourdes wisely pointed out that these were dangerous sea animals and that even though they were very pretty to look at, the children should never touch them.  She even held one up to demonstrate how the tentacles hang while the man-of-war float in the ocean.
	After a snack of chocolate chip cookies and juice under the welcome shade of a chickee hut, Miss Lourdes' students sprang into action, building a city of sand castles!   As the morning drew to a close, a few eager children splashed into the ocean water, with watchful moms keeping an eye out for the pesky man-of-war.
	Without question, Miss Lourdes' students from the Key Biscayne Presbyterian Preschool thoroughly enjoyed their morning out of the regular classroom activities, and learned some important lessons about the beach and the ocean and this island paradise on which they  live.