Dunes
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Approach:  One to one
Level: Year 4 and year 8
Focus: Sand dunes: function and protection  
Resources:
2 photos
652Kb
Questions/instructions:  
 
% responses
y4
y8
This activity is about the sand dunes that can be seen at some beaches.
Give student photo 1.
Here is a photo of a beach with sand dunes.

1. What do you think sand dunes are good for?
Resource information in lieu of copyright:
Picture:Hesp, P., http://www.massey.ac.nz/~wwglobal/Hesp/dunes.htm (March, 2007)
Description: Beach sand dunes with gentle, uneroded slope; scattered tussock growth in foreground, with natural beach litter, progressing to denser bush and tussock further away.

provide protection from the sea for the land and buildings further inland
6
24
protect coast from being eroded by waves/sea/storms
2
12
habitat for plants and creatures
41
41
nice to look at or play in/on/among
41
42
Give student photo 2.
Here is a photo of another beach with sand dunes.

2. How are these dunes different to the dunes in the first photo?
Resource information in lieu of copyright:
Picture:Coney, S., http://www.piha.co.nz/gfx/storms.JPG (March, 2007).
Description: Beach sand dunes with very steep, eroded slopes; tussock growth along top edge of dunes only.
much steeper (on ocean side)
36
56
less/poorer vegetation
19
12
Sand dunes closest to the beach change often. They build up and wear away, or erode, because
of the forces of the wind and the water. In this photo these dunes have eroded and have become very steep.

3. What could be done to help prevent the dunes from being eroded or getting too steep?
 
plant suitable plants on the dunes
7
13
stop erosion from people, animals and vehicles climbing on the dunes
4
6
do not allow sand to be taken from the dunes
0
0

Total score:
4–9
4
10
3
13
24
2
31
32
1
36
25
0
16
9
Subgroup Analysis [Click on charts to enlarge] :
Year 4
Year 8
Commentary:
Most students showed very limited understanding of coastal erosion processes and protection.