Coastal Ecosystem Rebuild

*Please note, early ClassVR headset models (155) may take longer to load this scene and performance could be affected.* Get ready for an unforgettable seaside adventure! On this virtual excursion, students will embark on an exciting exploration of a thriving *Coastal Ecosystem.* From towering cliffs, soft sandy beaches, shimmering tide pools and rolling coastal waves, every corner is bursting with life. In this explorable scene, students will take on the role of budding marine biologists and will encounter a cast of fascinating creatures. From puffins to brown boobies, seagulls to seals, they’ll investigate the survival skills of the toughest coastal plants and shrubs adapted to thrive in this ever-changing landscape. **Note to Teachers:** This experience is designed for students to discover the climate, landscape, flora and fauna of a typical temperate *Coastal Ecosystem.* This explorable scene is set in the summer season, showcasing how a warm and sunny climate brings this environment to life. # Learning Objectives 1. Describe the climate in a typical temperate coastal ecosystem{info} 2. Describe the flora and fauna of the coastal ecosystem{.info} 3. Describe how animals are adapted to the coastal habitat{.info} # Preparing for the Experience Before entering the *Coastal Ecosystem* explorable scene, ask students what they already know about the coastline as a habitat and biome. Explain that a coastal biome is a region where land borders the oceans. With varied terrain from sandy beaches to rocky and soft cliffs, steep hills, salt marshes, and grassy terrain, this region poses many challenges to animals and plants that thrive here. While summertime can provide a warm, sunny and dry climate, typical of the region, high winds, rain, wave action and oceanic tides can be the cause of the regularly evolving landscape. This ecosystem is certainly a fragile one. With moderate temperatures and varied seasonal changes coastal habitats have high biodiversity. These habitats support various specialized species and are crucial to conservation efforts because of the ecosystem's fragility. Coastlines experience habitat degradation due to their interference, particularly at the hands of humans. Therefore, reducing human impact and conserving the ecosystems’ unique characteristics are vital in maintaining an ecological balance, ensuring wildlife and human communities benefit from the natural resources from the area without destroying that balance. **Preparation Questions** 1. What characteristics make the coastal ecosystem varied?{.task} 2. Which part of the coastal habitats are likely to change frequently?{.task} 3. What type of animals would you expect to find in a coastal habitat?{.task} # Step-by-Step Experience Guide Teachers can use this step-by-step guide to lead students through the experience once they are in the headset. Alternatively, students can use the guide below independently, or in a group. # Rugged and Varied Landscape{.objective .objective1}  Welcome to the coast! Get ready to explore where land meets the sea, from towering cliffs to sandy shores, rugged rockpools, and open waters. As temperate coastlines experience seasonal changes, from cold winters with frequent rain to warmer summers with little rain, these ever-changing landscapes are home to some of Earth’s toughest wildlife, perfectly adapted to shifting conditions. Start by taking in the view. What do you notice about the steep, rocky cliffs and the lack of big trees? Well, the rocky terrain and shallow soil make it tough for many plants to grow! But, if you look closer, you’ll spot hardy grasses like yarrow, built to withstand the salty, shallow soil and rocky conditions. Before heading down the trail, check out the map to see what amazing sights await. Your adventure starts here! ## Quick Fire Questions 1. Why do trees struggle to grow on in shallow soil?{.task} 2. How would high winds prevent trees from growing?{.task} # Revealing the Coastline{.objective .objective2}  Let’s head back to the path and make our way to the beach. As you follow the path, you’ll reach the shelter. Take a left and step onto the jetty for a perfect panoramic view of this dynamic *Coastal Ecosystem*. Look all around. Steep cliffs tower over the shoreline, their rocky crevices provide the perfect nesting spots for seabirds. Further along, sandy beaches and rugged rockpools stretch out, serving as feeding grounds and hideaways for all kinds of marine life. To your left, you might spot a small pod of harbor seals lounging on the rocks, soaking up the sun. If you’re lucky, you’ll even see a seal pup sticking close to its mother! As mammals, seals can step out of water. Yet they do spend a lot of time out at sea hunting for fish. Their streamlined bodies and flippers make them very good and agile swimmers. As warm-blooded animals, seals have thick blubber to insulate them against the cold ocean waters. Now, let’s head back to the path and make our way to the beach; there’s more to discover! ## Quick Fire Questions 1. Why do harbor seals visit the coastal beaches?{.task} 2. Why are seals above to survive out of water, unlike fish?{.task} # Puffins and Seagulls {.objective .objective3}  As you make your way towards the beach, take the time to get a closer look at the birds on the cliffs. Here, you will notice two types of birds typically nest on the cliff face in small, sheltered spots away from predators. **Puffins**: Small birds with black and white feathers and a large colourful beak. Puffins tend to spend much of their life at sea and resting on the sea waves when not diving and swimming for food, which is mainly small fish. During the spring and summer, puffins will gather in colonies on the coast to breed and nest. **Seagulls**: As members of a large, widespread family of seabirds, gulls are intelligent and adaptable birds. While they are a common sight on the coast, they can also be found further in land in built-up areas. They are known to be difficult to identify, as they do not have a distinct plumage. It changes as they age, and each gull has a unique pattern. Birds, puffins and gulls have huge advantages in this type of environment as they can fly to reach the sheltered spots on the cliff tops. Let’s keep heading down towards the beach to see what else we can observe. ## Quick Fire Questions 1. Why do coastal birds nest on cliff tops?{.task} 2. Why are gulls difficult to identify{.task} # Rocky Shores and Sandy Beaches{.objective .objective4}  As you reach the end of the beach, you’ll spot a fellow marine biologist studying a series of rockpools. These shallow, self-contained ecosystems form when tidal waters flood rocky crevices, trapping a miniature world of marine life with each wave. Nearby, on the rocky shore, keep an eye out for some distinctive visitors, brown boobies! With their dark plumage, white breasts, and brightly coloured webbed feet, these skilled swimmers are built for life by the sea. Though not aquatic birds, they thrive in coastal habitats, diving effortlessly for fish and squid with their streamlined beaks and compact bodies. No wonder they love hanging around these rockpools! ## Quick Fire Questions 1. What adaptation makes brown boobies good at diving into water?{.task} 2. What do brown boobies typically hunt when diving?{.task} 3. What creatures can you see in the rockpools?{.task} ## Teacher Copy of Quiz with Answers Students should determine if these statements are true or false: 1. Trees find it easy to grow on coastal cliffs. **[False]** 2. Harbor seals live their entire lives out at sea. **[False]** 3. Puffins never go out to sea. **[False]** 4. Seagulls are a common site on the coast and other ecosystems. **[True]** 5. All coastlines are flat, sandy and dry. **[False]** 6. Coastal ecosystems are temperate and varied environments. **[true]** 7. Brown boobies have webbed feet for swimming when hunting for fish and squid. **[True]** 8. Rockpools fill with flood water caused by tidal movements from the sea **[True]** # Extended Learning Now that students have explored the *Coastal Ecosystem,* they can take the time to consolidate what they have learned. Create an infographic and annotate it with descriptions of the key characteristics of coastal ecosystems. Include: - Typical climate of a temperate coastal ecosystem - Typical wildlife of a temperate coastal ecosystem and their adaptations to coastal habitats # Cross-Curricular Links **Geography** Ask students to create an infographic outlining the typical physical conditions of a coastline, the typical climate, and how tidal forces shapes them. **Literacy** Using the scene as inspiration, students should write a tourist leaflet describing what they can do and see when visiting and walking along the coastline. Ask students to take notes about the atmosphere, how they feel exploring the beach, and the visual features they can identify. **Art & Design** Create a landscape piece of a typical coastline using a target art style. Students could use pastels, pencils, charcoal or watercolours. # Teacher Resources ### Download the Teacher Notes Below [](https://avnfs.com/wxzoDOGZ1dymHb2uefTGAgha-TkeR7de7_xZmv9dzOQ?size=5712868&type=application%2Fpdf&name=Coastal+Ecosystem+SS+Teacher+Notes+-+Teacher+Version.pdf) ### Download the Student Notes Below []( https://avnfs.com/5xV9xvYKwyMN1jBAQiPucLjiJe3x1NVXCzpC9akPcEc?size=4800903&type=application%2Fpdf&name=Coastal+Ecosystem+SS+Teacher+Notes+-+Student+Version.pdf)