Types of Tides Students read about and graph diurnal, semidiurnal and mixed tides. This reading provides explanations of some of the causes of the tides. Still Hanging On This three part lab, the first in a series of lessons about intertidal, rocky shore animals, explores barnacles' responses to temperature changes, their feeding behaviors and their life cycle stages. Sponges Students take progressively more focused looks at sponge looking first at the whole animal, then at its body surface, and then at the composition of its body walls. From Many This lab duplicates a classic experiment in which sponge cells are separated and their reaggregation observed.
Students dissect a sponge and count and identify the commensal organisms in the animal.
This field activity examines patterns and causes of zonation of intertidal marine organisms. Each student researches and describes the ecological niche of a selected marine organism. Create a Rocky Shore Student teams create a rocky shore scene, placing animals in their correct zones and adding interpretive notes. The Black Tide Students test a variety of materials to determine the best methods for cleaning up oil spills so they won't harm the rocky shore. Tanker Spill Students model an oil spill by dispersing popcorn.