Elementary school students learn about what life looks like at the intersection of land and ocean in the Pacific Northwest. Students take a 3D tour of the Puget Sound shoreline and explore the plants and animals who call coastal ecosystems home. They take a visual tour to the beach and use their senses to describe this experience.
Next, students learn how coastal ecosystems shape their climate and landscapes even if they don’t live near a coast. The lesson culminates with students investigating and comparing how Washington coastal ecosystems are different from other coastal ecosystems in the world. This lesson was written in collaboration with Washington Service Corps and Washington State Parks.
Lesson plan
Coastal Ecosystems of Washington (PDF)