In this activity, students explore the wonderful range of organisms washed up on Perth’s beaches.
Duration: 1 hour
The role of the Department of Primary Industries and Regional Development (DPIRD) is to conserve, develop sustainably and manage the shared use of the State’s aquatic resources and ecosystems for the benefit of present and future generations. To do this, DPIRD scientists must understand Western Australia’s coastal ecosystems and the species that inhabit this area.
In Western Australia we have over 12,500 kilometres of coastline to explore. This coastline varies from sandy beaches to rocky shores to estuaries and is home to a range of unique organisms. Understanding these organisms, and the role they play in coastal ecosystems, is key to ensuring that we do our part to look out for the marine environment.
In this activity, students explore a variety of plant, animal and algae specimens that have been collected from beaches in the West Coast bioregion. During the activity we also discuss marine debris, and the impact humans have on the beach environment.
Through completion of this activity, students will:
- Learn the primary differences between plants, animals, and algae.
- Identify the common organisms washed up on Perth’s beaches.
- Learn interesting facts about marine organisms found across the West Coast bioregion.
Cost: $5.00 per student
Note: This activity is the indoor version of Hillarys School Excursion: Beach Exploration.
Pre-excursion and post-excursion resources:
You can use the related resources below to further explore the flotsam and jetsam if the West Coast bioregion or run a similar activity with your class. Lessons that explore topics covered in this excursion are also linked below.