I read that it was going to be a negative tide right at sunset in September, so we headed out for an after dinner stroll. Tremendous excitement was felt by all three of us when we saw the beach. The summer sands are still pushed up. The Negative Tide was as low as we have ever seen it. The cliff to the right? That is usually where the water stops. There is a rock ledge on that cliff that one may walk on during a low tide, very carefully, to walk around the edge to a second beach. Even at low tide the water will splash the rock.
A few times, the tide has been low enough to reveal the rocks to the left – but usually leaving pools of water to wade through. We have walked through on the left 2 times, but never this far to the west.
This was during a week that we were to complete a One Small Square Study. The boys have enjoyed doing the yard challenge twice, so I mentioned it here. Our challenge : Find one object that you do not know the name of. Look at the extreme low tide rocks, one square foot at a time, and find an object. Nathan and I both found this little guy below. We thought we knew what it was – but it was different than what we had seen before. Once we were focused on one species, we found over a dozen of them.
Cascade Head is shown with the fog on the tip. When the the first winter storms rip the sand away – the sand on the right will disappear and it will be all rock. As I’ve complained before – all of this nature study is hard work for sure.
We looked up the object on line and browsed through four tide pool books. The assignment was to read through each entry and glean interesting facts. The goal question: If you are at the tide pools this month, standing next to a tourist, and they ask you the name of this creature, what will you answer? What sorts of information would you like to share with that individual? Write out your facts, draw the object, commit it’s name to memory.
We also practiced bibliographies such as
Linwood Smith. Common Seashore Life. Hearldsburg, CA
Naturegraph Company, 1962
We were right that this was a Chiton. This particular fella is Leather Chiton, Katherina. The mantle covers all but the very center of the body. This so so that it can withstand the surf and sun. All Chitons have 8 shells down their body. They feed on Algea. When they are taken off of a rock they will curl up like a pill bug. They have a boot and are related to the Snail Family.
+Angie Wright
Pebblekeeper 
What a great idea!
‘The goal question: If you are at the tide pools this month, standing next to a tourist, and they ask you the name of this creature, what will you answer? What sorts of information would you like to share with that individual? Write out your facts, draw the object, commit it’s name to memory.’
Neat study! What fun it would be to have tide pools to poke around in for nature study! I’m in the heart of the Shenandoah Valley in VA. It’s beautiful, but beaches are hard to come by around here! I’ll soon be studying Pagoo with my 7 year old, and it will be great to show him “real live” pictures that someone took of things in a tide pool.
If you need any specific object we could even make a lil you tube video.
What a great study! The very first nature study we ever did was One Small Square but it was far less colorful than yours. Never thought to try it at the beach, so I’ll have to remember than next time we travel to a beach! Even at the beaches we go to, I’ve still never seen the sorts of things you saw! Thanks for sharing!
Thanks Jamie!
What a great time to get out there and see things at low tide…we have hit that at Brookings a few times when we go in June and it is awesome to see all the things exposed that aren’t normally accessible.
Love your images and great job on your journals too!
Thanks for submitting this to the OHC carnival.
Our boys love minus tides, too! Never heard of the One Small Square project but will definitely be checking into it. Sounds awesome!
This was our entry for the first One Small Square study. They may have One Small Square Books at the library where you live as well as HBNS challenges.
Thanks for the tip!