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Teacher Tools
The classroom modules provided are free of charge.
Download any of the PDF files on the right and use any activities that will work in your classroom environment.
Beachology
The activities in BEACHOLOGY transport students to the sandy shoreline,
a favorite destination for young and old alike.
You don't need to be a marine science expert or a teacher, or even
live near the coast to present this guide to students. Background
information and resources are woven into each unit. BEACHOLOGY is
intended to provide you with fun opportunities to learn right along
with students as they work their way through the activity plans.
BEACHOLOGY will ultimately consist of seven main units, three of which,
along with the User Guide, are now available on the right.
BEACHOLOGY User's Guide
We recommend that you read through this introduction and each unit before you begin to present the activities contained in the BEACHOLOGY Units 1 and 2. This will give you a sense of the activity plans, and help you to foresee how they relate to your chapter's opportunities and special needs.
Unit 1: Beach Explorers
In Unit 1: Beach Explorers, students working in small cooperative groups explore a beach environment, or, for those who cannot readily access the shore with students, a simulated sandy beach in a plastic tub that is littered with "beach drift" and debris. Through a sorting activity, students discover that the objects found on the sandy beach can be grouped into those that show evidence of plant life, evidence of animal life, and evidence of humans. They also learn to distinguish between once-living (biotic) and never-living (abiotic) objects.
Beachology Unit 2: Studies in Sand
In Unit 2: Studies in Sand, students with hand lenses work in small groups to compare the color, size and shape of grains from several sand samples. Based upon their observations, students make inferences about the origins of their samples. Students discover that sand grains can be made of animals, plants, rocks, or even of human generated debris, and that these differences can be clues about where the sand came from and how it got to its present location.
Beachology Unit 3: Sand Travels
This unit consists of three activities, designed to bring home the following Key Concepts:
Erosion is the gradual wearing away of objects by water, wind, waves, or glaciers.
Sand is created by erosion and can be transported long distances by streams, rivers, and ocean currents.
Waves and currents constantly move sand on and offshore and along the coastline to form beaches which change with the seasons.
Structures like groins can affect sand flow along the shore and cause some beaches to disappear.
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Watershed Works
The activities in Watershed Works will present students with opportunities to learn how
water sculpts the earth's surface to create watersheds and the landforms they see in their
daily lives; how these processes support distinct but interdependent ecosystems; and
how they relate to modern environmental problems on our coasts. Watershed Works will
ultimately consist of six main units, three of which, along with the User Guide, are now
available on the right.
WATERSHED WORKS User Guide
The activity plans are supplemented by a section within this Users' Guide containing
resource information ('Resources'), and information to bring any presenter up to a
comfortable knowledge level ('Getting Up to Speed' sections presented within each Unit guide).
Unit 1: Watershed Model Exploration
Students are introduced to a unique and fun method for investigating how their local
landscape was created. Students discuss their ideas and work in small groups to cut
watershed models within tubs. This exploration enables students to observe the
intricacies of the watershed systems they have created, and sets the stage for later,
more controlled studies. Natural processes that create landforms and support habitat
types are discussed. And the concept of the interdependency of physical and
ecological features of the watershed system is introduced.
Unit 2: ManMade Features in the Watershed
Students build model cities within their watersheds, and observe the
effects on watershed features as water runs through the system.
Similar experiments are run to simulate dams, levees and culverts within
the watersheds. This activity helps student to begin to make connections
between the natural processes they observed in previous activities and
environmental problems they hear about in their daily lives.
Unit 3: Paths of Pollution
In this unit, students build on the knowledge and experience they
gained in working with models in the activities of Unit1 and Unit 2
to observe the effects of dynamic change within the watershed models.
Students place simulated toxic waste dumps in various locations within
the model watersheds, and observe the paths of toxic waste plumes as
water flows through the systems. Students observe areas where pollutants
are concentrated, and the ultimate destination of virtually all of the
pollutants introduced: the oceans. The concept of increased pollutant
loads with 'first flush storms' and following rainfall events is discussed.
Students are given opportunities to discuss other potential pollution sources and solutions.
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Beachology (grades K-5)
BCH_Unit1 (PDF)
BCH_Unit2 (PDF)
BCH_Unit3 (PDF)
BCH_UserGuide (PDF)
Watershed Works (grades 6-12)
WW_Unit1 (PDF)
WW_Unit2 (PDF)
WW_Unit3 (PDF)
WW_USERGUIDE.pdf (PDF)
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For more information on how to bring this program to your school
in the New Jersey area,
please contact us from the Contact Page.
Respect The Beach is a program developed by The Surfrider Foundation
This site is an effort of the Jersey Shore Chapter
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