The Ocean Supports a Great Diversity of Life and Ecosystems – at the Seashore
Although many of us may not live near a seashore, there are lots of things that can be done before heading on your day of exploration. Padraic is bouncing with ideas of how we can learn about the seashore discovering animals like the sea hare, to incredible starfish and the hermit crab to name a few. We can start our exploration at home by planing a seashore safari, making a seashore conservation code, as well as creating seashore safety posters. Check out some of the fun activities and games for the family that can be done at home learning about the animals to creating a seashore rock pool diorama.
LESSON PLANS, ACTIVITIES, WORKSHEETS:
The aim of the lesson plan and activities is to help the children develop their science skills and learn about living things on the seashore. A range of skills will be developed from analysing, sorting and classifying, recording … to just having fun exploring. The following lessons and activities involve lots of fun things to do before heading to the shore, on the shore, and for when you return.
LESSON PLAN: CROSS CURRICULAR - Exploring the Seashore
The lesson plan for Exploring the Seashore is cross curricular and covers a range of activities that can be completed by children of all age groups. The activities are divided into three areas including activities that you can do at home:
1. BEFORE YOU GO TO THE SEASHORE
RESOURCES:
Explorers Anecdotes about animals on the seashore
- This little quick reference guide aims to help you provide some fun ways to describe the animals that you may find on the seashore with children. Typical animals might include: lugworm deposits, a crab, hermit crab, starfish, mussels, limpet.
Explorers Seashore Presentation
- The Explorers Seashore Presentation can be used to introduce children to the types of animals and plants that you are likely to see on the seashore. You can also use this to discuss the seashore habitat, zones, as well as a seashore food web.
Explorers Seashore Safety and Conservation Guides
- The Explorers Seashore Safety and Conservation Guides provide examples of good practice on the seashore. It is important that everyone knows what to look out for to help stay safe on the seashore. It is also important that the children have a good sense of how to explore the shore without damaging or harming the seashore animals and their habitats.
ACTIVITIES:
ENGLISH - Seashore Word Mind map
- Discover all the words the children can think of about the Seashore. Identify the seashore words that they are familiar with using a coloured marker. Introduce new words to explain the different types of animals on the shore. Add the new words that the children are not familiar with to the word chart in a different colour.
- Play a game and work out how many words you can find in the word SEASHORE.
- Use the word art frame template and decorate the children’s favourite seashore words
SPHEA - All about me and the Seashore
- Get the children to complete the ‘All about me and the Seashore’ activity sheet to discover new things about themselves, while learning about their favourite seashore animal.
SCIENCE - What Animals Will I See & Where Will I See – Seashore Zones Infographic template
- Have a look at the types of animals and seaweeds that are found on the seashore using the Explorers Seashore Presentation and Explorers Anecdotes about animals on the seashore. Create a seashore zones infographic showing the animals and plants you are likely to see on the seashore.
GEOGRAPHY - Create a Seashore Safety and Conservation Poster
- Complete the Seashore Safety and Conservation Code Quiz and then make a poster to share with your friends and family.
ART - Making a Seashore Rock Pool Diorama
- A seashore rock pool diorama is a great way to bring the seashore home. This can either be made before or after you go to the seashore.
2. INVESTIGATIVE APPROACH AT THE SEASHORE:
There are a range of activities that can be carried out on the shore from exploration of living things to building sea monster sandcastles, using shells, stones and seaweeds. We have included some activities but the main one is to just have fun and EXPLORE.
ACTIVITIES:
GEOGRAPHY / SCIENCE – Explorers Seashore Safari
Some reminders / tips:
- Be prepared - Check your Seashore safety guide & conservation code
- Know your seashore and tides – make sure you have done a recce before heading down and know when it is low tide;
- Make sure you have safe shoes, sensible clothing and spare clothing for afterwards
- Just take a bucket, a small Seashore Guide and a camera-phone – don’t worry about having too much equipment as it can get in the way of exploring.
- Let the Seashore be the “Star”… and just enjoy Exploring”.
- If you find animals or seaweeds that you can’t find the name for, take a photo and see if you can find a picture of it on line or in a seashore guide. If you are really stuck, share with the Explorers team and we will try and help you find the answers: https://www.facebook.com/ExplorersMarineEducation https://twitter.com/explorersedu
SCIENCE - Explorers Treasure hunt and Quiz
- After exploring the shore, complete a Seashore Treasure Hunt and find lots of amazing shells, flotsam and jetsam, seaweeds, stones and more. The treasure hunt and quiz can be used or adapted to suit your shore.
ART - Build a Sea Monster on the Seashore
- The seashore is a great place to explore and build sandcastles! Get the children to use flotsam and jetsam along with lots of sand and build a sandcastle based on their favourite animal discovered on the seashore… or create a sea monster!
3. BACK AT HOME AFTER A DAY AT THE SEASHORE
After the trip at the seashore, spend time discussing the animals and seaweeds discovered.
Get creative with producing artwork and writing stories about the adventures on the seashore.
ENGLISH - Write a story or poem about your Adventures on the Seashore
- Use a the ‘Adventures on the Seashore’ story template and engage with other family members to help write a fun ‘super story’ about the seashore.
ENGLISH / ART - Explorer photo montage and / or short film clips on the shore
- Using the photos and film footage taken on the seashore, encourage the children to compile the photos into a montage poster, frame the best photos or create a short film being a ‘famous television presenter’ talking about your adventures on the seashore.
SHARE YOUR WORK
Don’t forget to follow the Explorers Education Programme Social Media pages. We would love to see your children’s work online! Don’t forget to tag us at #ExplorersEducationProgramme #ExplorersAtHome.
https://www.facebook.com/ExplorersMarineEducation
https://twitter.com/explorersedu