Explore the rocky seashore and intertidal zones and discover amazing adaptations of life forms that survive in the coastal environment. Put creative thinking to work with a design a creature challenge.

teacher and kids exploring rocky beach

Year level 3 to 6
Curriculum Level 1 to 3
Availability Available year round
Length 2.5 hours between 10am and 2pm (tide dependent)
Site Taylors Mistake
Sumner Beach
Cost Free
Number of classes Maximum of 35 students

Risk analysis and management (RAM)

Programme outline

Key concepts

Biodiversity and the interdependence of the rocky shore, sustainability of the resource, human impacts, tidal zones and adaptations.

Lesson description and intentions

At the beach your students will observe coastal residents in their real environment, examining their wider habitat and the different zones of life. 

Students will consider animal adaptations which help them survive in the rocky shore environment.  They will examine the complexity of the relationships between people, and living things at the coast through food chains and human impacts on this special environment.

Possible success criteria

Students may be able to:

  • identify key reasons why the rocky shore is a special place
  • identify different organisms that live in the three coastal tidal zones
  • explain how living things can adapt to their environment to ensure survival
  • identify an action that they can take to protect and enhance the coastal environment.

Key competencies

  • Thinking – students are encouraged to reflect on their learning regarding different tidal zones in order to suggest reasons for different creatures adaptations.
  • Participating and contributing – students will be empowered to develop a sense of responsibility for sustaining social, cultural and physical environments making up Taylors Mistake/Sumner Beach.
Learning areas Strand Curriculum level Achievement objectives
Science

Nature of Science

1 to 4
  • Communicating in science
  • Investigating in science
  • Participating and contributing
Science

Living World

1 to 4
  •  Life processes
  • Evolution
Science  

5
  • Ecology
Science

Planet Earth and Beyond

1 to 4

1 to 2
  •  Earth systems
  • Interacting systems
Social sciences

 

1
  • Understand how places in NZ are significant for individuals and groups
Social sciences  

2
  • Understand how places influence people and people influence places
Social sciences  

3
  • Understand how people view and use places differently
Social sciences  

4
  • Understand that events have causes and effects
Social sciences  

5
  • Understand how people's management of resource impacts on environmental and social sustainability
  • Understand how people's ideas and past actions impact significantly on people's lives
Health and physical education

Healthy Communities and Environments

1 to 2
  • People and environment

Feedback

"Great knowledge of local habitat and sea creatures" – primary school teacher.