Purpose:
Child will note similarities and differences, classify, and graph findings.
Materials:
tubs of sand
variety of shells
graphing mats/graphing paper
Procedure:
1. Place a tub of sand at each table, center, etc. A variety of shells should be hidden in the sand.
2. Each group of students finds the shells on the beach that day.
3. Students sort by attributes--size, color, shape, bivalve, gastropod, shell name, etc. (Whichever is appropriate for your grade level.)
4. Students keep a daily graph of the shells at their beach based on classification criteria chosen.
5. Each day the shells at the beach change.
6. Students interpret graphs and draw conclusions about the currents on this beach, the weather changes, the pollution, etc.