Tidal Pools

Summary
This is an introductory lesson about tidal pools and the creatures that live in them.

Objectives
• to explain and discuss the characteristics of a tidal pool;

• to identify some of the creatures that live in tidal pools;

• to describe some methods of adaptation used by tidal pool creatures.

Suggested Grades
2nd Grade
3rd Grade
4th Grade

Excerpt
Have you ever noticed how the water in the ocean moves away from the beach and then back again? If you build a sandcastle on the damp sand at low tide, by high tide it will have washed away. There are usually two high tides and two low tides every day.

When there are rocks at the edge of the ocean you will often find pools of water left there at low tide. Many strange creatures live in these pools. There are starfish and urchins, anemones and barnacles, mussels and snails, crabs, kelp and even small fish.

The waves that cover the pool at high tide bring water and food for these creatures, but when the tide starts going out again it takes most of the water with it. The water that is left is heated by the sun, and some pools dry out completely. The creatures that live in the pool have to adapt to avoid being washed away by the waves, dried out in the sun, or being eaten by predators like gulls.

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