Coasts: Erosion

Planet Planners on Roblox is an engaging way for students to learn about some of the world's most pressing challenges – from preparing for natural disasters to managing large cities.

A decision-making exercise game with geographical thinking at its core, it also builds key skills such as teamwork, time management, resilience, problem-solving and decision-making.

It is accessed via Roblox – an immersive platform for 3D experiences. To learn more about Roblox and how it can be used in education, visit Get started with Roblox Education.

For more detailed information about the game, visit How to teach using Planet Planners on Roblox.

Play Planet Planners on Roblox.

In this scenario, players act as decision-makers and take on the role of coastal managers on an island threatened by coastal erosion.

They must gather data, make decisions and manage competing interests to protect people, infrastructure, and the area’s economy.

Players must think critically about the complex balance between environmental sustainability, economic activity and public safety as they respond to evolving coastal hazards.

Approximate location: United Kingdom

Download/print the teacher notes for this scenario (PDF).

Teacher notes prepared in partnership with the Geographical Association.

Learning objectives

• To identify physical processes along coastlines, such as erosion and longshore drift.
• To make decisions about how to manage coastlines, including the appropriate use of hard and soft engineering strategies.
• To examine the social, economic and environmental impacts of decisions made along coastlines.

Key decisions

• How should we respond to sand depletion caused by longshore drift?
• What methods should we use to prevent coastal erosion: hard or soft engineering?
• Should we prioritise public safety, maintaining public access to coastlines, or the protection of coastal environments?
• How should we best prepare for storm surges and spring tides?
• How should emergency services respond to coastal hazards?

Key geographical terminology

Erosion: Wearing away of the land by natural forces such as water or wind, where rocks are worn away and moved.

Longshore drift: The zigzag movement of sediment along the beach in the direction of the prevailing wind.

Hard engineering: Human-made structures built to control natural processes like erosion.

Soft engineering: Ways of managing natural processes like erosion by working with nature rather than stopping it.

Think, work and apply like a geographer

Encourage students to explore the links between gameplay and real-world job roles, such as:

• coastal engineer
• environmental scientist
• emergency services coordinator
• marine geologist
• civil engineer

Questions to explore

• What causes longshore drift and how does it contribute to coastal erosion?
• How can we manage the impacts of erosion in ways that are fair to everyone, sustainable and cost-effective?
• What are the pros and cons of different coastal management strategies?
• What are the impacts of storm surges and spring tides and how can we prepare for them?
• How can decision makers balance risk with public access in safety decisions?
• How do coastal hazards affect tourism, housing, transport and the local economy?
• What is the role of data collection in managing natural environments?

Emotional and ethical considerations

Fear and uncertainty: Rising sea levels and storm surge risks may evoke fear about the future.

Ethical decision-making: Should people be allowed to take risks if warnings are given, or should areas be closed off completely? Do some communities bear more of the burden when erosion is redirected from one place to another (e.g. groynes shifting erosion down the coast)?

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