Overview
Key Considerations
Lessons
Time Estimate
11 to 15 class periods
Audience
5-8
Learning Space
Outdoor ·
Home
Standards Alignment
The protocol requires a field site in a rocky intertidal zone. Crab habitats include primarily moveable rock and seaweed, though salt marsh also makes for an interesting field site. Sandy beach and ledge are not good places to sample. Data also must be collected in the timeframe of an hour before or an hour after low tide. Once you and your students have rocky intertidal field sites selected, look at a tide chart. Plan the timing of your investigation so that you will be able to collect data in the required timeframe. Data can be collected any time of year.
The only recommended equipment is a device for taking photos, a notebook, pencil, and 1-meter squared quadrat. The quadrat can be approximated with a loop of string that is 4 meters in circumference. Students can lay the string down into a 1 meter squared square shape. If you or your students do not have access to cameras, they can submit a sketch instead. A hand lens could be useful, too. Students will need coordinates for the field site to enter data. There are lots of free apps that will help students find their coordinates. We use MyGPScoordinates.
To support students in contributing data, you can set up a trip for them on the Ecosystem Investigation. Find instructions here.
Additional curriculum resources: This resource is designed to support students working independently. For resources supporting teacher-led class investigations, see Intertidal Crabs Ecosystem Investigation and the Intertidal Crabs Data Investigation.
Step 1: Learn about the project
In this brief introduction to the project, students explore the Intertidal Crabs project page. They begin to gather information on the purpose of the project. All information on these landing pages will be reinforced in other parts of the investigation.
Student Pages | Intertidal Crabs Project | Attack of the Green Crabs Video
Step 2: Find your field site
Students find an intertidal field site, begin making observations, and plan for future field work based on the timing of the tides.
Student Pages | Tide Charts | Finding and Reading a Tide Chart Tutorial
Step 3: Build background knowledge around native ecosystems
Students use species cards to construct an ecosystem model. They will use the model to predict the impact of invasive species in future activities.
Student Pages | Coastal Ecosystem Cards (to print) | Coastal Ecosystem Jamboard
Step 4: Identify native coastal species
Students gather information that will help them to identify native species in an intertidal ecosystem.
Step 5: Look for native species at your field site
Students go to their field site to look for the species that they studied. They capture and share observations of what they did or did not find.
Step 6: Build background information - What’s the problem with invasive crabs?
Building on their models from Step 3, students develop understanding of the potential impacts of invasive crabs on coastal ecosystems.
Student Pages | Invasive Crab Cards (to print) | Coastal Ecosystem Cards (to print) | Coastal Ecosystem Jamboard
Step 7: Get to know the invaders
Students choose from different media to explore information about invasive crabs (see the student pages for links to background information).
Step 8: Identify intertidal crabs
Students gather information that will help them identify Asian shore, green, and native crabs. They use the information to create a new Intertidal Crab Field Guide and practice identification skills before heading out into the field.
Student Pages | Intertidal Crabs Identification Information | Intertidal Crabs Kahoot
Step 9: Measure intertidal crabs
Students gather additional information to help them collect data on crab features and add the information to their Intertidal Crab Field Guide. They will practice what they learn with crab photos.
Step 10: Collect data
Students collect and record data on intertidal crabs at their field site.
Step 11: Contribute data
Students submit their data to the Ecosystem Investigation Network. Educators will need to set up a trip in advance. See the linked video tutorials for help with this process.
Student Pages | Enter Data | How to Set up a Trip Video Tutorial | Get Student Passphrases Video Tutorial
Step 12: Explore data
Students explore Project Intertidal Crabs data contributed by students across the Gulf of Maine using the Common Online Data Analysis Platform (CODAP).
Step 13: Continue the investigation!
Students choose how to continue the work of monitoring local intertidal zones or learning more about the coastal species in their area.