TIDE POOLS ON CAVENDISH BEACH – A LESSON IN SURVIVAL
P.E.I. – ELEMENTARY
Tide Pools on Cavendish Beach – A Lesson in
Survival
Lesson Overview:
The purpose of the lesson is, through a “Web Quest”, to introduce the ocean
environment of tide pools to students in elementary school. The activities can be
done individually or in groups of varying sizes, depending on the nature of the
class and availability of technology facilities. It is recommended that teachers
familiarize themselves with the sites before starting the lesson. (If sufficient
technology is unavailable, relevant pages from each website can be printed and
copied.) The overall objective will be to introduce the area of Cavendish Beach,
tide pools, and the animals that are usually found there. The environment of a
tide pool will also be introduced and explained.
Grade Level:
Social Studies and Science, Grade 4-Prince Edward Island. May be modified for
other grades and jurisdictions.
Time Required:
2-3 class periods
Curriculum Connections:
Atlantic Provinces Education Foundation: General Curriculum Outcomes
for Social Studies
 People, Place and Environment - Students will be expected to
demonstrate an understanding of the interactions among people, places
and the environment.
 Interdependence - Students will be expected to demonstrate an
understanding of the interdependent relationship among individuals,
societies, and the environment and the implications for a sustainable
future.
Link to Canadian National Geographic Standards:
Essential Element #1: The World in Spatial Terms
 Spatial graphics (various map types)
Oceans Scope & Sequence Standard #1: The World in Spatial Terms
 Location of nearby bodies of water and watersheds
Essential Elements #2: Places and Regions
 Physical and human characteristics of places and regions within the
province and Canada
OCEAN STANDARDS LESSON PLAN
Canadian Council for Geographic Education
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TIDE POOLS ON CAVENDISH BEACH – A LESSON IN SURVIVAL
P.E.I. – ELEMENTARY
Oceans Scope & Sequence Standard #2: Places and Regions
 Characteristics of ocean habitats
 Characteristics of oceans and ocean ecosystems and habitats
Essential Element #3: Physical Systems
 Physical processes shape Earth’s features and patterns
Oceans Scope & Sequence Standard #3: Physical Systems
 Characteristics of ocean habitats
 Simple ocean dynamics
Essential Element #6: Uses of Geography
 Interaction of physical and human systems and influence on current and
future conditions
Oceans Scope & Sequence Standard #6: Uses of Geography
 Ocean themes in literature, art, and music
Geographic Skill #1: Asking Geographic Questions
 Ask geographic questions.
 Distinguish between geographic and non-geographic questions.
Geographic Skill #2: Acquiring Geographic Information
 Locate, gather and process information from a variety of primary and
secondary sources including maps.
 Make and record observations about the physical and human
characteristics of places.
Geographic Skill #3: Organizing Geographic Information
 Prepare maps to display geographic information.
 Construct graphs, tables and diagrams to display geographic information.
Geographic Skill #4: Analyzing Geographic Information
 Use maps to observe and interpret geographic relationships
 Use tables and graphs to observe and interpret geographic trends and
relationships
 Use texts, photographs and documents to observe and interpret
geographic trends and relationships.
 Use simple mathematics to analyze geographic data.
OCEAN STANDARDS LESSON PLAN
Canadian Council for Geographic Education
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TIDE POOLS ON CAVENDISH BEACH – A LESSON IN SURVIVAL
P.E.I. – ELEMENTARY
Additional Resources, Materials and Equipment Required:
 Computers
 Internet access
 Student organizer (attached)
 The following URLs:
Atlas of Canada Website:
http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/maps/reference/outlineprov_terr/pei_outline_
names/referencemap_image_view
Additional Websites:
http://www.cavendishbeachresort.com
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/intertidal/intertidal.shtml
http://www.42explore.com/tidepool.htm
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/edgeofsea/tidepool.html
http://edweb.sdsu.edu/triton/tidepoolunit/tidepool.html
http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/eviau/edit557/oceans/norma/otdpls.htm
http://www.dfg.ca.gov/watchable/tidepools.html
Main Objective:
The main objective of this lesson is to show how tide pools form from the
interaction of land and sea. Also, the diversity of life and the challenges of living
in that environment are highlighted.
Learning Outcomes:
By the end of this lesson, students will be able to:






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Access online information through various websites
Understand through map study where Prince Edward Island is located in
Canada.
Understand through map study where Cavendish Beach is located in
Prince Edward Island.
Understand what a tide pool is and how it is formed.
Define, in simple terms, what an ecosystem is.
Become aware of the fragile balance that allows this area to exist.
Identify various marine, plant and animal life that exists due to the
interaction of land and sea.
OCEAN STANDARDS LESSON PLAN
Canadian Council for Geographic Education
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TIDE POOLS ON CAVENDISH BEACH – A LESSON IN SURVIVAL
P.E.I. – ELEMENTARY
The Lesson:
This lesson is in the form of a WebQuest, whereby students use the links
provided in this lesson to search for information on the World Wide Web to
answer questions and to complete the activities provided at the end of the lesson.
Conclusion
Student Activity
The lesson begins with an introduction
to the Cavendish Beach area of Prince
Edward Island and the use of the map
provided to show where in Prince
Edward Island it is located. The atlas of
Canada map is located at
http://atlas.gc.ca/site/english/maps/refer
ence/outlineprov_terr/pei_outline_name
s/referencemap_image_view.
Students will also be asked to visit:
http://www.cavendishbeachresort.com/index.php. Here
will be a formal introduction to Cavendish Beach, with
the home page providing the starting point for our
lesson.
The teacher will act as facilitator and a
guide for the students in this part of this
lesson.
Students will be introduced to the idea of an ecosystem.
For a definition of an ecosystem, go to
http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/sci/A0857878.html.
Students will then be introduced to the idea of an
intertidal zone using the idea of such a zone on the
shores of Cavendish Beach, PEI. To understand the
idea of an intertidal zone, go to
http://www.enchantedlearning.com/biomes/intertidal/inte
rtidal.shtml. At this web site, there are many terms and
animals that are introduced. While all zones will be
explained, the focus of the lesson will be on the high tide
zone, where tide pools are formed. A definition of a tide
pool can be found at
http://www.42explore.com/tidepool.htm, and at
http://www.factmonster.com/ipd/A0694171.html. How
tide pools are formed can be found at
http://octopus.gma.org/katahdin/tidepool.html. For more
information on the animals and plants of the tidepool, go
to
http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/eviau/edit557/oceans/n
orma/otdpls.htm or http://www.dohenystatebeach.org/iptidepoolprepack.htm. For a virtual tour of a tide pool, go
to
http://www.pbs.org/wnet/nature/edgeofsea/tidepool.html.
The lesson will conclude when the tasks
for assessment are completed.
Students will complete an informal evaluation on tide
pools from
http://web.calstatela.edu/faculty/eviau/edit557/oceans/n
orma/otpques.htm. As well, the following worksheet will
be required.
Lesson Development
Introduction
Teacher Activity
See Following Worksheet
OCEAN STANDARDS LESSON PLAN
Canadian Council for Geographic Education
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TIDE POOLS ON CAVENDISH BEACH – A LESSON IN SURVIVAL
P.E.I. – ELEMENTARY
Assessment of Student Learning:
Completion of assigned tasks and the following worksheet:
Tide Pools:
1. Next to each picture that follows, select the correct name for the animal
that is shown. The answers can be found at
http://www.dohenystatebeach.org/ip-tidepoolprepack.htm.
OCEAN STANDARDS LESSON PLAN
Canadian Council for Geographic Education
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TIDE POOLS ON CAVENDISH BEACH – A LESSON IN SURVIVAL
P.E.I. – ELEMENTARY
OCEAN STANDARDS LESSON PLAN
Canadian Council for Geographic Education
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TIDE POOLS ON CAVENDISH BEACH – A LESSON IN SURVIVAL
P.E.I. – ELEMENTARY
Lesson Extension:
This lesson can be extended to include:
 Web searches to other Tide Pool web sites
 Field trips to tide pool areas can also be arranged to study the tide pool
ecosystem
 Possible consequences of pollution on the balance of life in the tide pool
(and oceans in general)
 Recreation of the tide pool animals in various art media.
 Write a story or poem about the tide pool
OCEAN STANDARDS LESSON PLAN
Canadian Council for Geographic Education
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