Summary
Beach hoppers spend the day buried in the sand and burst out at night to feed on washed-up seaweed. Deep Look reveals the springy, folded legs that let these little crustaceans launch themselves into the air again and again.
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All ages
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Teaching resources
Discussion questions
Talk about it
Beach hoppers have strong, folded legs coiled like springs. Snapping them straight flings the hopper up and away -- great for dodging danger and for reaching fresh seaweed along the tide line at night.
- What lets a beach hopper jump so high for its size?
- How does hopping help it stay safe and find food?
- Why is coming out at night helpful for a small sand animal?
Quick work-a-long
Vocabulary: crustacean, spring, launch, structure.
Try it: Bend a plastic ruler at the edge of a desk and let it snap up. Write how a hopper's springy legs fling it into the air.