Tide Pool Invertebrates

Have you ever explored a tide pool while at the beach?

Do you remember wondering what some of the creatures are?

A majority of the animals you see in a tide pool are classed as invertebrates, which means they lack backbones (or more technically, dorsal nerve cords). Invertebrates include animals like

jellyfish,

hermit crabs,

and sea anemones.

Activity: Making Clay Tide Pool Creatures

Today’s craft helps hone observation skills needed to identify and classify the many diverse marine invertebrates.

Gather:

• Photos/drawings of various marine invertebrates such as the Invertebrate Guide at the Monterey Bay Aquarium (click on thumbnail images) or illustrations from some of the books below.
• Toothpicks (if age appropriate)
• Paint
• Markers
• Chenille and/or wax-coated wikki stix
• Your favorite modeling compound such as salt dough or modeling clay

Basic salt dough is 1 cup of salt, 1 cup of flour and 1/2 cup of warm water mixed together and then kneaded. Shape the dough and let it dry. You can adjust the relative amounts of flour and water to suit your needs.

We used Crayola Model Magic, which we purchased with a coupon from a craft store.

(Affiliate link to Amazon)

Study the examples and then create your own models. You can push in toothpicks as spines, and chenille or wikki skix as legs.

Let the models dry and then paint and decorate them. You can use your models to create fun tidal pool scenes by adding rocks and/or construction paper algae.

Examples of tide pool scenes:

Want more information about animals found in tide pools? Try the books below. (Disclosure: I am an affiliate for Amazon. If you click through the linked titles or ads and make a purchase, I will receive a small commission at no extra charge to you. Proceeds will be used to maintain this self-hosted blog.)

Nonfiction

Life in a Tide Pool (Rookie Read-About Science) by Allan Fowler

Simple, straightforward informational nonfiction that covers the tide pool habitat.

Age Range: 6 and up
Series: Rookie Read-About Science
Library Binding: 32 pages
Publisher: Children’s Press (CT) (September 1996)
ISBN-10: 0516200313
ISBN-13: 978-0516200316

How to Hide an Octopus and Other Sea Creatures (Reading Railroad) by Ruth Heller

Ruth Heller’s books about camouflage are delightful, with rhyming text and colorful illustration. Highly recommended!

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Grosset & Dunlap (April 29, 1992)
ISBN-10: 0448404788
ISBN-13: 978-0448404783

Seashells, Crabs and Sea Stars: Take-Along Guide (Take Along Guides) by Christiane Kump Tibbitts and illustrated by Linda Garrow

Introduces children to common tide pool animals, with tips for identifying 15 different kinds of seashells, 5 kinds of crabs and 7 kinds of sea stars. Suggestions for activities included.

Age Range: 7 – 10 years
Publisher: Cooper Square Publishing Llc (January 1, 1999)
ISBN-10: 1559716754
ISBN-13: 978-1559716758

What Lives in a Shell? (Let’s-Read-and-Find-Out Science 1) by Kathleen Weidner Zoehfeld and illustrated by Helen K. Davie

This series is really outstanding. What Lives in a Shell? covers many animals found at the beach.

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: HarperCollins; 1 edition (April 22, 1994)
ISBN-10: 0064451240
ISBN-13: 978-0064451246
What’s in the Tide Pool? by Anne Hunter

The books in this series are small (approximately 5 inches x 5 inches). Each describe a few common animals in a given habitat.

Age Range: 4 – 7 years
Publisher: HMH Books for Young Readers (August 28, 2000)
ISBN-10: 0618015108
ISBN-13: 978-0618015108

In One Tidepool: Crabs, Snails, and Salty Tails by Anthony D. Fredericks and illustrated by Jennifer Dirubbio

This book includes rhyming text of the “house-that-Jack-built” format.

Age Range: 4 and up
Publisher: Dawn Pubns; 1 edition (August 1, 2002)
ISBN-10: 1584690380
ISBN-13: 978-1584690382

There are a number of books about a single group of invertebrates that are written for young children. For example:

Crab (Welcome Books: Ocean Life) by Lloyd G. Douglas

Age Range: 4 and up
Publisher: Children’s Press(CT) (September 2005)
ISBN-10: 0516237403
ISBN-13: 978-0516237404

Sea Stars (Ocean Life) by Lola M. Schaefer

Age Range: 4 – 8 years
Publisher: Capstone Press (July 1, 1998)
ISBN-10: 0736882219
ISBN-13: 978-0736882217

Fiction

A House for Hermit Crab (The World of Eric Carle) by Eric Carle

Growing and having to move are themes in this classic book about a hermit crab looking for a new shell to live in.

Age Range: 5 – 7 years
Publisher: Simon Spotlight; Reissue edition (May 13, 2014)
ISBN-10: 1481409158
ISBN-13: 978-1481409155

Don’t forget to check for other posts in the beach science category here at Growing With Science.