SCIENCE  

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Prepare Your Class for a Rocky Shore Study

 

Curriculum:  
Science: Making Sense of the Living World
Strong Links to The Arts, Technology

 

Learning Intentions
Investigating and classifying the easily observable features of fish and animals found on the rocky shore in rock pools and the inter-tidal zone
Understanding that there is a rich diversity of life that lives in and around the rocky shore of our coastline
Skills Used and Developed: Information Skills, Communication Skills, Study Skills

TEACHER PREPARATION:Rocky Shore Education Kit

CLICK HERE to find the DOC Marine Reserves Information kit in pdf format. (You will need Acrobat Reader to open up the pdf when downloaded to your desktop).

• Locate and download the ‘List of seashore animals’ pdf.
• Print out sufficient copies and distribute to students

Introducing the Rocky Shore:

Have students share experiences of visits to the beach and exploring rock pools.

Make a preliminary list of all the creatures they would find in this intertidal area.Divide the class into the following groups:

- Sea Anemones
- Molluscs
- Crustaceans
- Echinoderms
- Worms
- Fish
- Shore Birds

Each group task is to read and discuss the information provided (pdf) for each major group of rocky shore creaturesand report back to the class giving the following facts:

- common feature/s for each category
- names of seashore animals in each category
- brief visual description of each animal including
- any distinguishing features, body shapes, colours …
- any further information such as where found, how they move, where they live, what they eat…

Have each group prepare an ID Kit of each creature by drawing or photocopy enlargment of page diagrams.

Tell students that this will help them identify the sea animals when they visit the rocky shore

Remind students that sea animals must never be harmed or taken from the rocky shore.