Unit One Introduction to Marine Invertebrates - the National Sea ...

each--and about leaving the
beach cleaner than you found
it. It is likely that the
students will be more responsible
at the beach for having
helped to make the rules.
4. Talk about the power of the
tide. What might happen if
someone walked far out on a
mud flat and the tide started
to come in? Use the Tide
worksheet. Have the children
color the picture at low tide
“when the water is all the
way out.” Have them draw
pictures of themselves on the
beach looking at sea creatures.
Then, using a blue
crayon or pencil, lightly color
in the water to where it
5.
would be at high tide. What
would happen to their lunch?
What would happen if the
students had been playing at
the base of a cliff?
Have students pretend that
they are on the beach digging
clams when the tide comes in,
surrounding them with water.
What should they do? (Call
for help, blow a whistle,
wave a scarf--use a stick
or clam shovel to feel cautiously
shoreward through the
water. )
6. If you have a beach mural in
your room, hang string or
crepe paper across it. Use a
tide table to move the string
up and down your beach each
day to aid the children in
understanding tide movements.
7. Invite students to bring in
treasures they found at the
beach at low tide. Place the
objects in brown paper bags
and ask the children to take
turns reaching inside, feeling
and describing their finds.
Activity 2
Beach Field Trip
Background:
The most important part of Sea
Week is giving children a chance
to explore and discover sea creatures
on their own. For areas
with meager tidepool life, take a
look at some outstanding features
of the beach (waves, currents ,
sand, pebbles, beach formation)
and at the birds, fish, marine
mammals, seaweeds and shoreline
plants. And watch out for that
occasional jellyfish or sea star
coming in with the tide.
An inland class can create its own
beach on the classroom walls or in
the hallways. Older students may
want to prepare a beach for the
younger ones, who can use animal
cutouts and their imaginations to
make the beach come alive.
To prepare for your field trip:
a. Select a time and place.
Local people knowledgeable
about the area can help you
decide. (Low tide would be
best in the southern and
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