Beach School Adventure

The Beach Classroom

Under a palm tree near the dunes, Mr. T the sea turtle taught Beach Classroom. His students were Ralphie the rabbit, Sammy the squirrel, and Felix the fox.

“Today we learn about tide pools,” Mr. T said.

Sammy bounced. “Can we visit one?”

“Yes,” said Mr. T. “But first we learn the rules.”

He drew three pictures in the sand: a clock, two paw prints, and an open hand.

“Check the tide time. Stay with a buddy. Look with your eyes, not your hands.”

The Tide Chart

Mr. T showed them a tide chart pinned to a post. Low tide was in the morning. The water would begin rising after lunch.

“When the water comes back, we return to the classroom,” Mr. T said.

Felix copied the time in his notebook. Ralphie drew a little wave beside it.

At the tide pool, they saw snails, tiny fish, and a crab tucked under seaweed.

“Can I pick up the crab?” Ralphie asked.

“No,” said Mr. T. “That is the crab’s home.”

Ralphie folded his paws behind his back. “Hello, crab.”

The Curious Moment

Sammy spotted a bright shell near a narrow crack between rocks.

“I want to see it,” Sammy said.

Felix looked at the tide chart time in his notebook. “We have five minutes before we walk back.”

Mr. T checked the rock. “That crack is too narrow. We can draw the shell instead.”

Sammy felt disappointed, but he sat on a flat stone and sketched the shell with a stick.

“It has stripes,” he said.

“You noticed more by slowing down,” Felix said.

Back Before High Tide

When Mr. T called, “Classroom time,” everyone followed the same path back. The water began to slide over the rocks behind them.

Ralphie looked back. “The pool changed fast.”

“Tides do,” said Mr. T.

Sammy held up his drawing. “I did not take the shell, but I still get to remember it.”

Mr. T smiled. “That is a fine beach lesson.”

The students sat under the palm tree and added their drawings to the class tide book.