Year 1 Go Rockpooling in Newquay!

Pupils from Year 1 enjoyed an exciting day of beach exploration with ‘Big FT’s  Shack’ at Tolcarne Beach in Newquay.

The adventure began with learning the names of sea creatures that can be found on the beach, such as crabs, starfish and plankton, before exploration of the rockpools commenced. Mr FT brought a vibrant and energetic atmosphere to the session, with children in hysterics as they discovered that many sea creatures feed through their bottoms. He launched himself into the pools, diving under covered rocks and carefully pulling out a range of sea creatures for the children to hold, including Shore Crabs, Soft Crabs, Cornish Sea Slugs, Thornback Rays, and even a living Orange Breadcrumb Sponge, which our pupils quickly nicknamed SpongeBob SquarePants!

Before heading off to explore, the children received a safety briefing, including advice about rockfalls, undercurrents, shifting sands and protecting the environment. They also helped remove beach waste, such as discarded fishing nets, as part of the experience.

Shouts of “Mr FT, I’ve found something!” echoed across the beach as pupils excitedly hunted for creatures to learn more about. Finds were carefully handled and returned to safe areas, with a strong emphasis on respecting the marine life.

As part of their adventure, the children made their way through the rockpools of ‘Starfish Alley’, learning the helpful catchphrase “Seaweed slippy, barnacles grippy.” Pupils spotted oysters, which Mr FT reported were only recently being seen at Tolcarne Beach again after a gap of 25 years. They also learned how to identify male and female sea creatures and had the chance to see a female crab laden with eggs, as well as crabs moulting their shells.

Pupils volunteered to become ‘Sea Scientists’, learning how to hold crabs gently to avoid injury to themselves or the animals. Throughout the day, they gained fascinating insights into geography, geology, habitats, and marine life – learning how different creatures live, reproduce, and feed. They also had the chance to clamber safely over the rocks, exploring shallow pools and surfaces, before ending their expedition with a well-earned beach picnic.

We would like to thank Mr FT for providing such a wonderful and memorable experience for our pupils.