OCEANSCAPE NETWORK
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Navigate:

EDUCATE > COAST CONNECTIONS > SANDY SHORES
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  • Background
  • Essential Concepts
  • Driving Questions
  • General Resources

Entry Events
  • Invite A Guest Speaker
  • Read a Book
  • Engage the Senses

Driving Questions:
  • DQ1: Why are our sandy beaches special? 
  • DQ2: How can we take care of sandy beaches? 
  • ​​DQ3: Why do we need to restore Oregon's dunes?

Authentic Projects for DQ1:
  • AP1: Critters of the Coast
  • AP2: Mapping Our Beaches

Authentic Projects of DQ2:
  • AP1: Oregon's Beach Bill
  • AP2: Our Beach, Our Responsibility

Authentic Projects of DQ3: 
  • AP1: Restoration Project
  • AP2: Recruitment Campaign

Entry Event: Engage the Senses:

For kinesthetic learners, nothing beats a truly hands-on experience. Bring the beach to your classroom with the sensory activity described below.

Step 1: Gather materials
You will need to make either one large or several small "mini beaches", depending on your class size and preference for group vs whole-class activity. The goal is to create a microcosm of what students may find at the local seashore. Go to a nearby beach and collect:
  • Sand 
  • Twigs
  • Shells, feathers, bones, other biofacts
  • Examples of plastic trash

SAFETY ALERT: Be sure to spray materials with disinfectant after gathering them!

Related Feature: Youth Activity: Beachcombing

Step 2: Set up your "mini beaches"
Place an assortment of your materials into one large or several small plastic tubs, shoeboxes, or other containers.

Step 3: Explore
Invite students to feel and touch everything in their Mini Beaches. Ask the follow questions to engage discussion:
  • Does this remind you of any memories you have from visiting the beach.
  • What else can you find at the beach?

Bonus Activity: Ask students to express their favorite beach memory in the form of a drawing, poem, or short story.

Ready to Move On?

​CHOOSE YOUR DRIVING QUESTION BELOW:

DQ1: Why are our sandy beaches special? (Learner Level: Beginner)

DQ2: How can we take care of sandy beaches? (Learner Level: Developing) 
​
DQ3: Why do we need to restore Oregon's dunes? (Learner Level: Advanced) ​
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About Oceanscape
The Oregon Coast Aquarium's Oceanscape Network is an educational program for youth designed to inspire curiosity in science, nature, conservation and outdoor exploration while providing valuable classroom resources for educators. MORE.
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