About This Lesson
Use this lesson when teaching coastal habitats, human impacts on the environment, animal needs, conservation, or
responsible behavior at the beach.
Students will learn about hermit crabs that live in coastal environments and why their borrowed shells are important for
survival. Hermit crabs have a soft, vulnerable abdomen and use empty shells made by other animals for protection.
Students will discuss how taking hermit crabs or collecting shells from the beach can affect animals that depend on those
resources. Students will learn that shells may already contain animals or may provide future homes for hermit crabs and
other organisms.
Students will finish the lesson by creating an edible hermit crab using a peanut butter and jelly tortilla, fruit, pretzels, and
other ingredients.
