Last Wave: Discover the Ocean’s Ecosystem

Play the Video

Tune in for a brief overview of Marine Ecosystems. Further links and resources available in the Additional Resources section above.

Gold Coast Marine Memory Game

Goal

Match species or habitats with their correct ecological role or fact while learning about the Gold Coast’s unique marine ecosystem.

Setup

1. Shuffle all the cards.

2. Lay them face down in a grid (e.g., 4x5 for 20 pairs, 6x6 for 18 pairs, etc.).

3. Decide who goes first (youngest, rock–paper–scissors, or “who saw a dolphin last?”).

How to Play

1. On your turn, flip over two cards.

   • If they match (e.g., Green Turtle ↔ Eats seagrass and algae), you keep the pair and take another turn.

   • If they don’t match, turn them face down again in the same spot.

   2. The game continues clockwise around the group.

Special Gold Coast Rules (Learning Twist)

• Eco-Explain Rule: To keep the pair, the player must explain how that species/habitat contributes to the ecosystem.

  • Example: “The mangroves provide a nursery for fish and protect the coastline from erosion.”

• Challenge Rule (optional): Another player can gently challenge if the explanation is incomplete. The group then helps fill in the missing info.

• Stewardship Bonus (optional for older groups): If a player can also say how humans can protect that species or habitat, they earn an extra turn.

Ending the Game

• The game ends when all pairs are matched.

• The winner is the player with the most pairs.

• Everyone shares one new fact they learned about the Gold Coast ecosystem.

Variations

• Solo Play: Time yourself to see how fast you can match all pairs.

• Therapy Group Play: After each pair, invite reflection: “What can we learn from this species about balance, resilience, or teamwork?”

• Outdoor Play: Use natural items (shells, seaweed sketches) as physical props alongside the cards.

Download cards in the Additional Resources dropdown menu.