Strand line Search
Source:
'Schools Out - Fieldwork made easy': A teacher's pack for 5-14 Environmental Studies produced by Highland Environmental Network School Group
Noss National Nature Reserve, teaching and activity pack (SNH)
OBJECTIVES
- To hunt for natural and un-natural objects found along the strand line
Time
20 minutes
You will need
- 'Treasure hunt' sheets (see downloads below)
- pencils
Did you know?
Tentsmuir, St Cyrus and Forvie National Nature Reserves are some of the many sandy beaches that you will find in the 'Where to go' section.
Before the activity
Download the activity sheets from the seashore section in Schools Out:
- Seashore Treasure Hunt - sheet 1
- Seashore Treasure Hunt - sheet 2
or use the suggestions on the strand line search sheet and edit to fit your group. You may also like to laminate copies of other illustrated worksheets in the seashore section of 'Schools Out' to help with identification of natural objects.
The activity
Use the 'Strand line search' sheet to get the children to hunt for natural, unusual and man-made items found on the beach. For younger children just ask them to search for a specific item or items and then return to base with each one.
They do not need to collect all the items on the worksheets, just tick ones when they find them, or write notes on the sheet.
At the end of the search gather the group together and ask general questions about what they found. What was the best thing they found? What was the nastiest? What bits of flotsam and jetsam did they find? etc. What does flotsam and jetsam mean? Discuss how long they thought all their items on the beach would last? Did they look 'weathered'?
Suggested Follow up
- The activity Wasted
- The activity Sand Sculptures
Downloads
- Suggestions for the strand line search
- Schools Out - seashore section - seashore treasure hunt sheets 1 & 2
Additional Information
See Schools Out - Seashore section for illustrated worksheets of:
- shells
- unusual things along the tide line
- estuary birds
- seabirds
- food from the mud
Curriculum Links
- Science - main
- Health & well-being - associated
Age Range
1,2,3,4