Education Activities and Resources

Try out this Climate Cart activity from home! In this activity, you can model how storm surge and waves affect the beach. Then, use different materials to try and protect the beach from the waves. What works best? What surprised you? How can we apply these findings to real-world scenarios?

This resource packet includes instructions, a list of materials, and guiding questions.

Try out this Climate Cart activity from home! Inspired by artist Jill Pelto, use graphs of real climate data to create unique and communicative pieces of art. What emotions do you want your audience to feel? What message do you want to convey? What might this data look like in the future?

This resource packet includes climate data graphs, guiding questions, and a list of materials.

Try out this Climate Cart activity from home! Climate change is making our oceans warmer and warmer. Although this might make swimming for people more fun, it means big changes for our neighbors who live in the ocean. Use this activity to explore how the critters that call Boston Harbor home might be affected by warming oceans temperatures. Click the link to download the activity packet, and download our animal "trading cards" here: https://tinyurl.com/marineanimalcards

Try out this Climate Cart activity from home! Developed in partnership with Boston Children's Museum, explore how a new research project from Living Seawalls is helping us create homes for marine life in Boston. Think about what creatures like crabs and sea stars need in their homes, and create your own Living Seawall tile to help them thrive!

The first of four standards-based lessons focused on coastal erosion developed in collaboration with National Parks of Boston. This lesson introduces students to field science, participatory science, and science being done in Boston.

Slideshow presentation to accompany Lesson 1

The second of four standards-based lessons focused on coastal erosion developed in collaboration with National Parks of Boston. This lesson introduces students to erosion using a simple model.

The third of four standards-based lessons focused on coastal erosion developed in collaboration with National Parks of Boston. This lesson takes students to Constitution Beach to practice an authentic scientific protocol and explore their local beach.

The fourth of four standards-based lessons focused on coastal erosion developed in collaboration with National Parks of Boston. This brings students to Boston Harbor via a harbor cruise, allowing them to explore erosion all around the Harbor from a boat.

Centered at Carson Beach, this place-based lesson plan was developed by teacher Elisa Convers during the Summer Teacher Institute. The lesson plan includes objectives, MA State learning standards, guiding questions, and lesson outline.

Topics covered include: coastal ecology, topography, cartography, biodiversity, climate change

Centered in Cohasset, this place-based lesson plan was developed by middle school teacher Catherine Yindra during the Summer Teacher Institute. The lesson plan includes objectives, MA State learning standards, guiding questions, and lesson outline.

Topics covered include: ecosystem resources, atmospheric science, forest ecology, wildlife identification

Centered in Salem, this place-based lesson plan was developed by middle school teacher Maggy Tran during the Summer Teacher Institute. The lesson plan includes objectives, MA State learning standards, guiding questions, and lesson outline.

Topics covered include: coastal ecology, oceanography, geology

Centered in Arlington, this place-based lesson plan was developed by middle school teacher Susan Stewart during the Summer Teacher Institute. The lesson plan includes objectives, MA State learning standards, guiding questions, and lesson outline.

Topics covered include: forest ecology, carbon sequestration, science communication

Centered in Marblehead, this place-based lesson plan was developed by middle school teacher Kristina Serino during the Summer Teacher Institute. The lesson plan includes objectives, MA State learning standards, guiding questions, and lesson outline.

Topics covered include: coastal ecology, erosion, beach profiling, climate change

Centered at the Braintree Town Forest, this place-based lesson plan was developed by teacher Sarah Clark during the Summer Teacher Institute. The lesson plan includes objectives, MA State learning standards, guiding questions, and lesson outline.

Topics covered include: forest ecology, watersheds, phenology, water quality

Explore the Lab's very own zine! Learn about climate change, how it's affecting Boston Harbor, and unwind with a marine animal coloring page. Folding instructions can be found here: https://www.museums.cam.ac.uk/sites/default/files/how%20to%20fold%20a%20zine.pdf

Observe seasonal change and make scientific illustrations using this phenology datasheet. (Designed for middle school)

Meet and learn about three native species and how they respond to seasonal change. How are these species connected? How might climate change affect their lives? (Designed for middle school)

Liven up a trip to the Harbor with our Harbor Change Bingo! This game highlights everyday things you can see around Boston Harbor, including signs of change and erosion. Use this activity to spark conversation about how coastal change impacts our city, and how climate change will exacerbate these impacts. Includes four bingo games per sheet.

Let your inner designer shine with this coastal protection design activity! Use this worksheet to create and name an imaginary city, and then design a way to protect it from sea level rise and erosion. Find suggested strategies on the back of the sheet, or get creative by coming up with your own techniques!

Boston residents and community members are collecting data about creatures living in the intertidal zone of Boston Harbor. Check out this ID guide of the different molluscs, seaweeds, crustaceans, and more that these scientists are looking for - and use it to ID these critters yourself!

Inspired by the seven Ocean Literacy Principles, we developed three Principles of Coastal Resilience to guide our education and outreach initiatives. These Principles will ensure that all of our programs are oriented towards the same goals and tie back to the broader work of the Lab. Anyone is welcome to use these Principles for their own work by downloading the PDF below!