I have five tide pool facts and you’ll love these edible tide pool diorama ideas. Also, look at this free Seashore Watching Unit Study and Beach Lapbook.
Not every diorama has to be cardboard. You’ll love these edible tide pool diorama Ideas that make a tasty new way to learn.
We are creating our own sea creatures that are found in a tide pool with moldable candy, add some fish, and top it with beautiful ocean water.
People love to visit tide pools when the tide is low to observe the fish and other sea life that is contained within, and every tide pool is a unique micro-habitat that is filled with life.
A tide pool is an isolated water pocket that is formed in the ocean’s intertidal zone.
It is made when seawater gets trapped in shallow depressions along the shore as the tide recedes.
This can be on rocky ledges, sandy beaches, and even mudflats.
5 Tide Pool Facts
- Tide pools can be anywhere from a few inches to several feet deep and are a living petri dish of sea life with- snails, sea stars, barnacles, mussels, anemones, urchins, crustaceans, seaweed, and small fish.
- As ocean water flows outside the tide pool during low tide, the creatures are exposed to long hours in the sun, low oxygen levels, and warmer water temps, not to mention hungry wading birds. The creatures that live in the tide pool must cling fiercely to the rocks.
- On the other hand, the waves at high tide bring in fresh nutrients and microscopic organisms, such as plankton making nourishment plentiful for them to keep the cycle going.
- The water in tide pools can change temperature significantly because the volume of water is small.
- Most marine organisms don’t have to deal with large temperature fluctuations; intertidal organisms do.
Also, look at these books about tide pools.
Tide Pool Resources
Books and resources about tide pools for kids. Add one or two of these books to your unit study.
Lift the flaps and discover the many hidden creatures of the tide pool.At first glance, there’s nothing much to see . . . but tide pools are full of secrets. What creatures can be found nestling among the rocks and hiding in the seaweed? Dive into these mysterious seashore habitats and learn how to spot the creatures concealed within. With big, easy-to-lift flaps and a glossary of the tide pool’s inhabitants, Narelle Oliver’s lush underwater primer introduces young readers to the wonders just waiting to be revealed in the tide pools of the world.
The series Life in a Tide Pool explores the fascinating world of tide pools. Tide pools occur in rocky locations where the ocean meets the land. This zone is covered by water and exposed to air periodically throughout the day. The series explores the types of marine life that live in this harsh environment and looks at how these animals can survive.
Bright starfish, spiky sea anenomes, sea cucumbers, mussels, and colorful fish! Peek into these vibrant shoreline pools and discover amazing ocean habitats teeming with life!
Packed with beautiful and engaging photos, this new leveled reader will teach kids how tide pools work, what kinds of animals live in them, and even how to prepare for a tide pool visit of their own.
With expert-vetted text, brilliant images, and a fun approach to reading, National Geographic Readers have proved to be a winning formula with kids, parents, and educators. Level 1 text is carefully leveled for an early independent reading or read aloud experience, perfect to encourage the scientists and explorers of tomorrow!
What would you see if you sat at the edge of a tidepool, looked into the water and watched the changes taking place in this little world? What life would you discover there? In a charming hand-sized book, Anne Hunter illustrates the creatures that live in and around a tidepool, and describes each animal's characteristics and habits. The gorgeous artwork and simple sense of wonder will inspire children to explore their environment. Fans of Hunter’s two books, WHAT'S IN THE POND? and WHAT'S UNDER THE LOG? will want to add this new title to their collection.
Explains how tidal pools form and the types of plants and animals that inhabit them
AT HOME IN THE TIDE POOL looks at the creatures and plants found in the mysterious and wonderful world of the tide pool. Children will be fascinated by the amazing creatures and the slippery seaweed. Did you know that crabs can re-grow missing limbs? Or that starfish eat by pushing their stomachs out of their bodies through their mouths. AT HOME IN THE TIDE POOL will entertain and educate readers about life in the tide pool from low to high tide.
Tide pools form from water left on rocky shores when the tide withdraws. From seaweed and sea snails to shore crabs and seabirds, readers will discover some of the plants and animals that live in and around these ever-changing ecosystems.
Moreover, look at some hands-on ideas.
Whether you’re looking to craft or read about tide pools, you’ll find an idea.
Tide Pool Diorama Ideas and Resources
- Create a classic diorama like the FIAR Night of The Moon Jellies Tide Pool Diorama.
- You could also make a Tide Pool Art Project for a different slant.
- Here is a great simple backyard Tide Pool Science Experiment that your kids will love to explore if you don’t have your own nearby.
- Watch The Secret Life of Tidepools for a peek into this unique habitat.
- Free Oceans Unit Study and Lapbook.
- Or check out Exploring Tide Pools for Kids.
- I found this fantastic resource for Tidepool Math from the Bureau of Ocean Energy Management which has resources for grades k-12.
- Save your voice, grab a coffee, and play this read loud In One Tidepool on Youtube.
- Free Seashore Watching Unit Study and Beach Lapbook.
- Be sure to grab some Ocean Animal toys for making dioramas or just fun dramatic play, this set has plenty of tide pool items like crabs, sea stars, seaweed, and more.
- Look at this beautiful two-page spread I found in Ocean Anatomy, besides that there are individual pages on individual creatures and things you would find in a tide pool, what a great resource.
Finally, look how to make an edible tide pool diorama.
How to Make an Edible Tide Pool Diorama
Before you begin your activity, you will want to look up some tide pool creatures to help your child decide what to make in books or use Google as well.
You will need:
- Gummy fish
- Airheads
- Nerds
- 3 oz box blue jello
- Clear glass dish
- Tan cardstock
- Sanitized scissors
First, trace the bottom of your clear glass dish using tan paper and cut it out, set aside.
Cut open the airheads.
I chose this candy because it molds very nicely, like clay, especially when warmed slightly by your hands.
Pinch, pull, cut, and twist airheads into shapes like barnacles, anemones, seaweed, etc.
How cute is this little crab we made?
Tape tan paper to the underside of the dish to look like the ocean floor.
Warm the dish in the microwave for 30 seconds. And you just want it the slightest bit warm (not hot!), gently press your sea creatures onto the dish.
The heat will help melt the airheads and make them grip the plate a bit so they are not displaced when you pour in the jello. Add your jellyfish at this time too.
Prepare jello according to package directions.
If you want a clearer view to the tide pool you may opt for yellow jello with the tiniest bit of blue food coloring,.
You will be able to see through the final product a little better.
Allow jello to cool completely but not start to gel up in the refrigerator.
Also, pouring cooled jello over your candy makes it dissolve and lose color a lot less than hot would.
Pour carefully into the dish to fill it.
You can still see your creatures very well at this point.
Allow it to set for 3-4 hours or until “solid”.
Use sanitized tweezers, spoons, and a magnifying glass to move the water aside and find ocean life living in your tide pool.
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