Bayside Middle – Ocean Discovery

Over the past week we have welcomed nine classes of Grade 6 students from Bayside Middle School to the Huntsman to take part in the Ocean Discovery Program.  The students that attended today are the last ones for the fall session and with them we have seen over the 1000 students since Year 7 of the program began in October.  Wow, that’s a lot of students! 
 
As part of the hands-on Ocean Discovery Program the Bayside students used microscopes to view plankton for the first time, conducted a classification and observation lab using local marine invertebrates, such as rock crabs, Acadian hermit crabs, scallops, and sea urchins, and had lunch around the two touch pools in the aquarium, where the sea stars and skates created lots of excitement.  Depending on the weather some of the classes also went to the beach to explore, while others stayed in the aquarium and had a chance to view the seals, fish, and lobsters in the lower level.
 
Below are some pictures from the visits.    

Texture and movement were some of the characteristics

used to describe this sea star.

Using an inventive way to measure the rock crab!

Students being introduced to plankton in the lab.

Viewing phytoplankton and zooplankton.

Students love the crabs in the touch pool!

One of the students found this big moon snail in the touch pool.

Slimy!

The skate touch pool was popular.

Some of the students found a live sea urchin during their

beach exploration.