1Marci McGowan       H. W. Mountz School        Spring Lake, NJ
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Rocky Shores Student Activities
(page 3)

While most of the first graders were interested in learning about big and dangerous marine animals like sharks and killer whales, or nice ones like dolphins and manatees, our MARE thematic curriculum focused on life in specific habitats to be learned at different grade levels.

Our class targeted those animals living in rocky shores and tidepools.  At first they were a little disappointed, but quickly became interested as we learned more about the wonderfully diverse life found there:  seastars, mussels, anemones, slugs, clams, oysters, lobsters, shrimp, sculpin fish, shore crabs, hermit crabs, fidler crabs, squid, octopus, whales and some sharks. 

Using books, videos, websites, an aquarium field trip, and examination of several marine animals, we learned about the rocky shore and tidepools as habitats for various animals and plants.

New Jersey has wonderful sandy beaches and man-made rocky jettys.  This image shows a natural rocky shoreline in Bar Harbor, Maine.

Students shared their shell collections.  Teachers brought in clams, mussels, squid, fish, and octopus for the students to examine directly.

Our octopus, squid, and clams - all ready for investigation!

The octopus was softer and heavier than expected.

Mrs. McGowan's son, Dave, a marine biologist in Florida, sent 4 shark jaws to our class!  He also sent many shells and two big conch shells.  Here are some of them.

Ocean Diorama 2003

We made diorama showing the ocean as an animal and plant habitat.

Here's another version of an Ocean Diorama using origami animals.

Ocean Diorama 2005

For a close up view, click on each image:

Rocky Shores Mural

All three first grade classes made a huge wall mural of the rocky shore habitat.  Students made paper rocks and plants in art class.  Our art teacher got us started with the mural and students added animals where they might be found in the habitat.  This was a favorite activity!

Fish Painting

 
We used tempera paint on the fish to make prints.  The fish prints were cut out and used on the hallway mural shown above.

Sculpin Hunt

We learned about camouflage in tidepools by playing a fun game in the classroom.   Directions and pattern for Sculpin Hunt.

Seashore Charades

Teacher shows slides or photos of tidepool/rocky shore animals while giving some information about their behavior.  Students role-play the animals.  I used a PowerPoint slide show for this game and students were able to return to it at a later time.

Tidepool Crab

Seashore Bingo

This terrific activity showed how well the students had learned to read names of different marine animals.  Our PTA parents programmed  all the bingo cards with marine words, conducted the bingo, and gave prizes to all the first grade participants and winners.

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