Sands, Beaches and Coastlines

Where does Beach Sand come from?

Beach sands tell us a lot about weathering and erosion by waves, and the sources of the sediment that built the beach. Some beaches are dominated by shelly debris from waves breaking up skeletons of marine organisms. Other beaches are dominated by sands produced from the weathering of cliffs along the shorelines. The following resources exhibit sands from different parts of the world.

Resources

All ages

• Gallery of Sands from Around the World: Australia; Belize; Cayman Islands; Costa Rica; Hawaii; Jamaica, Dominican Republic and U.S. Virgin Islands; Netherlands, New Caledonia, Spain, U.S.A.  
• CoreKids: A beach is a beach…or is it? (posters/handouts)

Grades K-2

• CoreKids: Beaches 101 (slideshow)
• CoreKids: A beach is a beach…or is it? (slideshow)
• CoreKids: A beach is a beach…or is it? (lesson plan)

Grades 3-5

• CoreKids: Beaches 101 (slideshow)

Grades 6-8

• CoreKids: Sand mystery module (slideshow)

Grades 9-12

• CoreKids: A beach is a beach…or is it? (slideshow)
• CoreKids: Beach renourishment project (classroom activity)