Science Exploration Among Sand and Shells
Charlotte Mason considered it ridiculous that a child would study about the rainforest but not recognize the plants and animals in his own back yard. But she certainly didn't limit nature study only to a family's immediate surroundings. Nature study can extend to whatever place you visit whether that be a city, a zoo, a botanical garden, a desert, or the beach.
If the beach is nearby, take a day trip for your weekly nature study. Or if the beach is a far away treat, try to sneak in a little nature study during your vacation time. You won't have to work hard to encourage your children to collect shells and look at the creatures caught in the tide pools. But be deliberate about bringing along sketchbooks to document what you see and field guides to identify what you find.
Tide Pools
My daughter and I have spent hours staring into the fascinating cornucopia of life found in tide pools, night after night during a beach vacation. They are always fascinating no matter how long you've looked at them; you always find something new to marvel at. Visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium's activities page for directions to build your own aquascope for looking into tidepools!
California State Parks offers lots of free educational resources for studying and enjoying tidepools -- A Guide to the Side of the Sea.
Oregon Coast Aquarium's Tide Pool Talk PDF is outstanding! You'll find an extensive glossary, flashcards, diagrams, puzzles, poems, and more.
And if you're more of an auditory learner, go to the National Wildlife Federation's Green Hour website for a short podcast about tidepool watching.
You're in for a real treat if you click over to School for Us to see their field trip to Cabrillo National Park's tide pools. WOW! What incredible life can be found in those small pools.
A Beach Nature Study
If you have several days at the beach, consider focusing on one particular topic each time.
Things to study
- shells
- creatures in tidepools and on the sand
- plants growing on the beach and in the water
- erosion
- wind - fly a kite
- sun and clouds
- tides
- stones and driftwood
- birds
For more ideas, visit Home Science Tools' Seashore Science Projects.
What to Take Along for a Beach Nature Walk
Although you hate to be encumbered by too much gear, it's also nice to have a few supplies on hand to enhance your observations. Pick and choose what to take. And remember, each day's beach walk can be different -- take binoculars one day and a bucket the next. But don't forget the sunscreen!
- Magnifying glass
- Binoculars
- Camera
- Bucket, pail, jar, mesh bag, or other creative container for shells or small creatures.
- Paper or sketchbook; pencils
- Field guides for on-site identification
More Beach Nature Study Ideas
Beach Books
Prepare for your beach visits or reinforce what you already experienced with some living books.
Homeschool Share offers an entire unit study complete with printable notebooking pages all about the book Pagoo.
Online Field Guides
- eNature Seashore
- eNature has lots of great reference material. After visiting the beach, look up some of the creatures you saw.
- Seashell Identification Guide
- Click on the picture that best matches your shell. Quick and easy!
Peterson First Guide to Seashores
Peterson First Guide to Seashores
Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Used Price: $0.01
This is an inexpensive field guide to get you started with beach nature study. For a more in-depth resource, look at the title below.
Beach Learning Blog
Sunny at the Beach! This is a great blog all about learning at the beach.
Fetching RSS feed... please stand byAtlantic Seashore Field Guide
A Field Guide to the Atlantic Seashore: From the Bay of Fundy to Cape Hatteras (Peterson Field Guide Series)
Amazon Price: $14.28 (as of 07/13/2009)
Used Price: $5.88
Shells
Take the shells you collect from the beach and put them to good use. Organize and label them. (Be inspired by this blog entry!) Use them for crafts or for displays such as this shadow box craft.
Peterson First Guide to Shells
Peterson First Guide to Shells of North America (Peterson First Guides)
Amazon Price: $5.95 (as of 07/13/2009)
Used Price: $0.01
National Audubon Society Field Guide for Shells
National Audubon Society First Field Guide: Shells (National Audubon Society First Field Guides)
Amazon Price: (as of 07/13/2009)
Used Price: $2.35
Guestbook
memoryman wrote...
Lately I have able to study nature at home. We have these huge black ants that are hanging out inside ! Our cat is going crazy because of them :) Great lens by the way !
Posted May 31, 2009
clembob wrote...
Great job! I havent been to the beach in quite a few years now. Your lens makes me want to go to the sea shore this summer
Posted May 12, 2009
Evelyn_Saenz wrote...
The beach is a wonderful place to learn and explore.
Lensrolled to Sand Dollars: Math at the Beach.
Posted April 25, 2009
Cari_Kay wrote...
Y'know, when I was teaching at the college, this is what we did for one of our field excursions! It's a wonderful trip for children as well as young adults and, okay, older adults as well :) thanks.
Posted November 22, 2008
by Jimmie
Hello! I am a homeschooling mom who loves to teach and learn. I love the flexibility of Squidoo lenses for showing off our homeschool projects. Bloggi...
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