Taking a walk down the beach with the rangers and picking
up as many different types of shell and then sorting them into the different
groups- competition with prizes at the end for most number of groups.
-
Learn:
- Team work
- Shell identification,- looking for not only colour and
shape differences but key things to look at when identifying shells
- What used to live in the shells
- What they can be used for now- i.e. hermit crabs etc
A ranger led walk where
the children explore the beach and discover what has been washed up by the tide.
The children are put into small teams and are encouraged to pick up as many
different types of shells as they can find, there’s a prize at the end for the
most species! During the walk the rangers talk to the children about the range
of materials found on the beach and the life cycles of shells.
A walk down the beach
with the rangers, exploring the tide line for all the interesting things that
get washed up, and also to spot all the other wildlife that uses the shore.
Seashore waste is looked at. Some rubbish is left by visitors, other waste is
thrown overboard from ships and is washed up. However there is also natural
waste, as some animals and plants (especially seaweed) get washed up. The
rangers show the differences between the materials, and talk about pollution and
the importance of recycling. A scavenger hunt can be incorporated into this
activity aswell.
In small groups the
children search the beach for as many different types of shells as they
can find. The children are encouraged to look at the different shapes, sizes and
colours. At the end the rangers help the children to separate the shells into
groups using similarities and differences and display them on the beach. The
team which has the most groups of shells wins a ‘special prize’- hand made by
the rangers!
Aims of
Activity
To
familiarise students with seashore life especially bird life.
To
look at the feeding habits of birds.
To
examine the adaptations to a seashore environment.
To
examine the types of waste material on the shoreline.
To
investigate the sources of seashore pollution.
To
suggest remedies for these ‘litter’ problems.
To
learn basic shell identification, looking at colour, shape and physical
features.
To
think about what used to live in the shells and what they can be used for now.
To
develop teamwork within the group.
Relevant Parts of the
National Curriculum:
SCIENCE
Primary
Secondary
|