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Tide Pools

Tide Pools

TIDE POOLS Life in a Pool Tide pools are full of remarkable Twice each day, when creatures that are -adapted to this unique high tide pound the , and constantly changing . inhabitants flows into the nooks and must avoid being washed away by waves, keep from drying out crannies of shoreline rocks. When in the during low tide, and avoid being eaten—so they are the tide recedes, some of the designed to wander, swim, crawl, hang on, and hide. stays behind, forming “tide pools.” Go “Tide Pooling” These pools of seawater are found Go out on the shoreline rocks during low tide and check out the tide pools. in the —the thin When you observe stars, anemones, urchins, , , and band of rocky located in a tide pool, you are seeing some very hardy between the high- and that are marvelously adapted to live in low-tide lines. these unique, tiny, dynamic .

Exploration Tips: 1. Always go exploring with an adult. 2. Wear appropriate footwear. rocks are covered with wet seaweed and are very slippery. 3. Protect your skin from sunburn. 4. Be aware of the . It is safest (and most interesting) to go at low tide, but always keep a watchful eye on the waves. Bring a field guide or printed identification sheet to help identify Parent/Teacher Note 5. Skills Learned: the and plants you see. Our favorite is Mass Audubon’s Beachcombers Guide to the North Atlantic Seashore. Observation and comparison: light, color, 6. To protect wildlife, leave plants and animals in physical properties, waves, observing their pools and avoid stepping on wildlife behavior, identification, physiological them. , habitat comparisons Math: counting, measuring, mixing Creative expression: creative writing, illustration, design, sharing, performing, food preparation and presentation Things to Look For: Information science: researching • A variety of creatures—notice how some are information, finding images attached to the rocks, others are moving about, and some are hiding among . ONLINE BONUS! • A range of seaweeds, including , Irish moss, rockweeds, and sea lettuce. Look for the air sacs on rockweeds that keep them floating near Learn more at: the surface of the pool to catch and sunlight. www.massaudubon.org/go • A place where an could hide. Great Times to Visit • An animal hunting and catching food. Post-Tide Pool Activities • The extreme low-tide zone, where the pools are practically connected to the and are exposed for only a few hours a day. • A high-tide pool, farther away from the water and flooded only during extreme high tides.

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