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As a meteorologist and a mom, nothing brings me more joy than passing on my love of science. And there is no better place to do that than at the beach.
Start with Your Five Senses: Science begins with observation, and you can start with your five senses: Hear the waves, smell the salt, feel the wind, see the colors, and taste new foods. Make observations with simple tools, like a magnifying glass to see grains of sand, or binoculars to spot dolphins. Scientists start by asking “why” or “how” based on what they see, setting the stage for exploration through experiments.
Watch the Clouds: Notice the shapes and how they change over time. This can lead to a discussion about the weather and the water cycle. You can even use the clouds to make a general prediction about the weather.
Most clouds fall into these categories:
• Cumulus: Puffy and white, they’re typically associated with fair weather. Under the right conditions, they can grow into larger storm clouds called cumulonimbus.
• Stratus: Low, flat, gray clouds that often cover the entire sky. They are known for bringing light rain, but they can also indicate an approaching storm system.
• Cirrus: Thin, wispy, and high in the sky, indicating fair weather but can signal that a faraway storm system is approaching.
• Clear skies: Usually indicates high pressure, which brings calm weather.
Notice the Tides: Draw a line in the sand where the farthest waves reach and watch how that line changes throughout the day. Discuss how the moon’s gravitational pull causes the ocean to bulge on the side of the Earth facing it and that, due to inertia, the water also bulges on the opposite side. As Earth rotates, the bulges move, resulting in two high tides and two low tides per day. The sun also affects the tides, by amplifying them during full and new moons and reducing them during first and last quarter moons.
Fly a Kite: The beach provides a perfect open area to fly a kite, free of trees and powerlines, and even on the calmest of days, there’s usually at least some wind. And it’s a great first way to personally experience many concepts of physics, including lift, thrust, drag, gravity, force, and tension. Check the forecast to find a day when the winds will be 10 to 20 mph. That’s the ideal wind speed for most kites.
Why It Matters
Taking moments to explore science at the beach does more than entertain. It instills a sense of curiosity, wonder, and a deeper appreciation for the natural world. Next time you head to the coast, pack some science supplies and a sense of curiosity.
Pack a DIY Beach Science Kit, including:
• Magnifying glass
• Binoculars
• Water & air thermometer
• Small containers & buckets
• Sand shovels
• Kite
• Flash light
• Journal & pen
Reach out to me on social: @AvaWBAL