Learning Module

Intertidal Crabs: Just do it!

Head out to an intertidal area with your students and contribute valuable data to a shared research effort. This resource is designed to get you and your learners started with a community science project to understand the impacts of climate change on intertidal crab populations.

Seacoast Science Center Workshop 11182021
Teacher's Guide Resource Link Icon

Learning Outcomes

  • Describe the impacts of invasive crabs to coastal ecosystems
  • Carry out protocols accurately and with confidence
  • Contribute accurate and meaningful data to support better understanding of changes to coastal ecosystems

Time Estimate
4 to 10 class periods

Audience
5-8

Learning Space
Classroom  ·  Outdoor

Standards Alignment

Timing and Location for fieldwork:

Fieldwork for project Intertidal Crabs must be completed within one hour of low tide. Consult a tide chart when making fieldwork plans.

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.

Additional resources:

This guide is intended to get you started with a community science investigation. If you are looking to dive deeper with climate change, the challenges posed by invasive crabs, and the community science data, we recommend the Intertidal Crabs Data Investigation.

Lesson 1: Crab Invasion!!

Introduce learners to the problem of invasive crabs with short video introductions with our project leaders, a modeling game, and a discussion.

Facilitator Guide | Student Pages | Slides | Project Intertidal Crabs Page

Lesson 2: Get ready for fieldwork

Learners practice fieldwork skills at interactive stations. If time permits, they can reinforce their identification and knowledge of the protocol with the online quiz game, Kahoot! and by going over the protocol in fieldwork teams.

Facilitator Guide | Student Pages | Slides | Protocol and Identification Resources | Fieldwork Skills Stations | Kahoot

Lesson 3: Collect Data

Fieldwork teams collect data from an intertidal zone in their area.

Facilitator Guide | Protocol and Identification Resources

Lesson 4: Share what you found

Teams submit their data to the Ecosystem Investigation Network and share observations with the community.

Facilitator Guide | Student Pages | Slides | Data Entry Page | Screencast: set up a trip | Screencast: find passphrases | Discussion Forum