Some resources from federal government sites are currently unavailable; when possible, we’ve provided alternative non-government links to ensure continued data access.
Provided by: The Nature Conservancy |Published on: August 21, 2025
Lesson Plans
678
Synopsis
In this lesson from Nature Lab by The Nature Conservancy, students will explore oyster reefs as a nature-based alternative to sea walls for addressing coastal damage.
Students explore data for tides in a given area, measure waves and the damage they cause, propose possible solutions, analyze oyster reefs as a solution to coastal erosion and damage, and perform wave-simulating tests to determine the best size and type of barrier to reduce wave energy in different circumstances.
Directions for using the NOAA tides and currents tool for instruction are easy to follow and include helpful images to guide teachers.
Students will benefit from seeing the value in nature-based solutions, which is a core component of this lesson.
The hands-on activity in this lesson will engage students and solidify their understanding of the best solution to address coastal damage.
Prerequisites
The links to the images in the Materials section may be broken. Additionally, the link for the coastal Louisiana USGS video may be broken. Some links for additional resources may be broken.
Teachers will need to gather various materials that may not be in the classroom, such as a concrete paver, blocks, sand, and stones, for some of the activities.
Students should understand that waves have energy and that energy can be measured.
Students should understand exponents and how to solve for missing variables in a data table.
The link in the Explain section of Session 1 goes just to the homepage, rather than the section on tides and currents. Students will need to use this link to get to that specific information.
Differentiation & Implementation
Teachers may want to pause the Amazing Oyster Reefs video to discuss and define green infrastructure and gray infrastructure. Students can give examples of each and list the benefits of the oyster reef as green infrastructure.
When using the tides and currents tool, students may benefit from having a coastal location assigned to them to explore using the map.
Teachers can connect this to the UN Sustainable Development Goals by using this as an example of how addressing Goal 15, Life on Land, can also address Goal 11, Sustainable Cities and Communities, and Goal 13, Climate Action.
Teachers can use the data analyzed in this lesson to practice working with Excel or another spreadsheet application. Students can practice converting the data to a .csv file, sorting the data, and using the data to create visual representations.
Teachers can make connections to climate change by explaining some of the impacts of climate change, such as an increase in the frequency and severity of storms and sea level rise.
Scientist Notes
Teaching Tips
Standards
Resource Type and Format
About the Partner Provider
The Nature Conservancy
The Nature Conservancy is a global environmental nonprofit working to create a world where people and nature can thrive. The Nature Conservancy has grown to become one of the most effective and wide-reaching environmental organizations in the world.
Related Teaching Resources
All resources can be used for your educational purposes with proper attribution to the content provider.
