Save the Lighthouse
A STEAM Activity
Studying changing landscapes is often a curriculum requirement for 2nd and 3rd grade classrooms and erosion is a natural land changer. The goal of this activity is to explore how landscapes are impacted by different natural and man-made influences. Students will be able to see erosion’s impact on the land and look at how we might prevent it and discover that there are reasons why we have jetties and seawalls, and also the role that natural vegetation plays in keeping erosion at bay.
You can bring in math by taking a dry erase marker and tracing the sand hill on the outside of the plastic tub. Students will be able to see how much land change (erosion) is happening as a result of the waves, tides, and other forces impacting the shore. By taping a transparency sheet with gridlines, students can measure the area of beach that has been lost through erosion.
If time allows, you can introduce grasses, “boulders” and smaller rocks one at a time for further exploration and observation.
Supplies:
- Clear plastic tub
- Pool filter sand
- Rocks (different sizes)
- Aquarium grass (with grid at bottom)
- Clipboard or other paddle for wave making
- Dry erase marker
- Transparency with grid lines (optional)
- light house optional
More STEAM Integration Activities
Introducing Science Concepts through Music and Movement
Using music and movement is a helpful and fun way to introduce topics to students and get them excited about what they are going to learn. Find short films of chants that cover science topics for a variety to age groups.
Ideas and Best Practices for Outdoor Learning
Join Environmental Educator Gammy Moses as he offers insights for bringing the learning outdoors. Educators at Seedlings’ 2024 workshop visited East Rock Park to explore topics, activities and best practices for bringing students outside.
Socks & Seeds: An Adaptation Exploration
The objective of this activity is to help students understand the different ways that seeds adapt in order to be transported for dispersal and species survival.
Fiddler Crabs: Science, Observation & Inquiry
This activity asks students to make observations and inquiries about animal behavior and can be adapted for a wide range of grades, from kindergarten through middle school.
Earthquake! A STEAM Activity
In this architecture and engineering activity, students will be tasked with using index cards to form a construction that will withstand an “earthquake.”
