Life in a Rock Pool
Coping with change
by Janice Ross
Suitable for Whole School (Pri)
Aims
To consider the ever-changing environment in a rock pool and the Christian belief that Jesus is an anchor during times of change.
Preparation and materials
- You will need the PowerPoint slides that accompany this assembly (Life in a Rock Pool) and the means to display them.
- Have available the BBC Two video ‘Rock pools’ and the means to show it during the assembly. It is 3.14 minutes long and is available at: https://www.bbc.co.uk/programmes/p0119bv6
Assembly
- Point out that there are some activities that we always associate with summer.
Ask the children if they can suggest any.
Listen to a range of responses. - Ask the children if any of them visited a beach during the holidays. Ask them what activities they enjoyed there.
Listen to a range of responses. - Ask the children to think carefully about a beach that they have visited.
- Where was the beach?
- Was it rocky, sandy or pebbly?
- Were there cliffs?
- Were there rocks that people might climb on? - Explain that some beaches have rock pools.
Pools of seawater form between the rocks, and the water level changes constantly. Twice a day, the tide advances up the beach and then goes back again. This means that sometimes, the rock pools are full of water, whereas at other times, they can be a small puddle. A rock pool teems with life, but you have to search carefully. The creatures may be hiding! - Tell the children that you are going to show them a short video about rock pools. Ask them to listen carefully and learn as much as possible about all the creatures and plants found there.
Show the BBC Two video ‘Rock pools’ (3.14 minutes long). - Review the plants and creatures that were shown in the video.
Ask the children, ‘How many reasons can you remember about why rock pools are not the easiest places for plants and animals to survive?’
Answers may include the following.
- The environment changes constantly: when the tide comes in, the pools fill up; when the tide goes out, the water level drops.
- The temperature of the water changes.
- Rock pools are exposed to sunlight, waves and strong winds. - Plants and animals in a rock pool are hardy and well-adapted to survival.
Ask the children if they can remember how certain creatures are adapted to the environment.
Show Slide 1.
Sea anemones cling to rocks and the floor of the pool, using tiny suckers down the length of their arms to keep themselves attached. When the tide is out, they curl up in a ball to avoid drying out and to conserve energy.
Show Slide 2.
Seaweed attaches to rocks, anchoring itself.
Show Slide 3.
Crabs have a hard shell, like a suit of armour. They blend in with the background, skulk under rocks and hide in crevices, away from predators. - Introduce some other creatures that are found in a rock pool.
Show Slide 4.
Limpets have a strong foot that glues them to the rocks so that waves don’t dislodge them. They also have a hard shell to protect themselves from predators such as seagulls.
Show Slide 5.
Barnacles attach themselves to the rocks with their heads. When they have attached themselves, they can no longer move. Their hard outer shell protects them, and they often cluster together for added protection from the waves.
Show Slide 6.
Blennies have slime-covered skin to help them slide between rocks. They can also change colour.
Time for reflection
Christians believe that God made these creatures and plants in such a way that they can withstand harsh conditions and adapt to an ever-changing environment.
Our lives can sometimes be a bit like a rock pool. We get tossed about with problems and changes, and often need something or someone to hold us steady.
Show Slide 7.
Many early Christians had an image of an anchor on their gravestones. Their lives were very hard, and they were often persecuted for being Christians.
Show Slide 8.
An anchor holds a ship in place in the roughest of seas. Many early Christians believed that Jesus was like an anchor, keeping them safe when life was hard.
There is a verse in the Bible, in the Book of Hebrews, that says, ‘We have this hope as an anchor for the soul, firm and secure.’
The motto of the Boys’ Brigade today - ‘Sure and Steadfast’ - is taken from this same verse.
Prayer
Dear God,
You know that our lives can be like living in a rock pool at times: uncertain, ever-changing and scary.
Thank you that Jesus wants to be our anchor, holding us steady and protecting us from harm.
Amen.
