Homeschool Unit Studies: Beach Unit Study

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If you’re using homeschool unit studies, I’m sharing a fun beach unit study that’s a perfect way to learn about these natural wonders!

I absolutely adore the beach. What can I say? I’m from Florida. 🙂

It turns out that beaches actually provide lots of educational opportunities. You can learn about animals that live near or on the beach, how beach sand is formed, and weather that frequently occurs near shorelines – just to name a few.

Beach Unit Study

This unit study features plenty of beach activities for kids, some beach books for kids, lots of beach crafts for kids, and some educational videos that teach students about how beaches are formed, how waves develop, and what kinds of cool creatures live near the beach!

Beach Notebooking Pages

Pick up these free beach notebooking pages to get started on this beach unit study! They’re perfect for writing down the answers to the questions in the next section!

Or you can use them with the kids to write a report on what they learn or to practice copywork! Just the click the image or the link below to get your set. 🙂

>>>>> Shells by the Shore Beach Notebooking Pages <<<<<

How are Beaches Formed?

It takes many, many years for beaches to form. What makes up a beach anyway? Watch the short video below and see if your kids can answer the questions that follow.

1. What landform do beaches start from? (Answer: Mountains)

2. How do mountains lose particles? (Answer: Particles from mountains are eroded away and washed down rivers.)

3. How do particles from mountains end up on the beach? (Answer: They sink to the bottom of the river floor and are transported to the shore over time, forming beaches.)

4. Why don’t plants grow on the beach? (Answer: The salty air prevents plants from growing.)

How Are Waves Formed?

Waves also contribute to the shape of beaches. As they land onshore, waves wash particles away from the beach, eroding sand off the shore and down to the ocean floor. Watch the following video to learn about how waves form and see if your kids can answer the questions below.

1. What causes waves? (Answer: Weather events happening far away from the shore)

2. What determines how big waves are? (Answer: 1) How strong the winds offshore are blowing, 2) How long the winds have been blowing, and 3) How large an area the winds have been blowing over)

3. How do localized winds affect waves? (Answer: Localized winds are winds that blow just a few miles offshore. These winds can cause smaller waves near the beach.)

Animals That Live On the Beach

Did you know that there are animals hiding in tide pools near the beach? They hide under rocks when the tide goes out, but they’re there! Watch this video to find out which animals live in ocean tide pools and challenge your kids to answer the questions that follow.

1. What is the correct name for a starfish? (Answer: Sea star)

2. How did the Leather Star get its name? (Answer: It feels like wet leather when touched.)

3. What animals are sea anemones related to? (Answer: Coral and jellyfish)

4. How long can a nereid worm grow? (Answer: Up to 2 feet in length)

5. Name three types of crabs found on the beach. (Answer: Purple Shore Crab, Striped Shore Crab, Pacific Rock Crab)

6. How are prickleback fish different from most fish? (Answer: They can breathe air.)

7. How long can prickleback fish get? (Answer: Up to 2 1/2 feet in length.)

Printable Beach Scavenger Hunt for Kids

Want to have some simple fun at the beach with the kids? Pick up this printable beach scavenger hunt and let the kids mark off the things they find!

This is just a suggestion, but it might help: Consider laminating this scavenger hunt and using a dry-erase marker. Then you can reuse it afterwards!

Sign up for our email newsletter to get this printable beach scavenger hunt as part of our free exclusive Subscriber Library!

Beach Activities and Crafts for Kids

Try some of these fun beach-y activities with the kids during your beach unit study!

For more ideas, check out this list of 25 beach crafts kids can make!

Add in some reading with these wonderful books about the beach for kids!

I hope you and your little ones enjoy this fun beach unit study! Looking for more fun homeschool unit studies?

And don’t forget to follow my Unit Studies board on Pinterest for more resources!