The
Grade 6+ students were the first in the lab.
They did an experiment that showed how the temperature of water creates
currents in the ocean. The analysis
question that created the most discussion was, “Is it easier for a human to
swim in warm or cold water?”. The
students had lots of great ideas.
Next
in the lab was the Kindergarten to Grade 2 students. The topic of the lab was skates so each
student got an empty skate egg case to observe and feel. Then the students gathered around the
mini-touch pool to see the egg case with the baby skate and its yolk still
inside and to touch the juvenile skate.
We talked about the different parts of the anatomy while everyone gently
touched the back of the skate. To finish
up the students made a skate egg case craft.
The
final lab of the morning was with the Grade 3-5 students and we discussed
seaweed. As part of the activity the
students went ‘shopping’ and then checked the ingredient label of their
products to see if any contained carrageenan, alginate, or agar (aka
seaweed). Altogether the students found
about thirteen products containing seaweed, including bagel chip crackers, ice
cream, toothpaste, hot cocoa mix, and yogurt.
I think we concluded that everyone had eaten some seaweed recently
without even knowing it. To finish off
the lab the students got to sample some Grand Manan dulse. A number of the students even had seconds!
When
not in the lab today the students watched the movie Blue Planet – Tidal Seas
and completed some worksheets around the aquarium about skates, invertebrates,
and the Bay of Fundy.
We
would like to thank Susan, our wonderful volunteer, Andrea for kick starting
the program, and all of the students and parents that participated in the
program. We look forward to seeing you
all again!
Making sure the water is the proper temperature for the experiment.
Cold (blue) water flowing on the bottom and hot (red) water flowing on the top.
Working on the skate craft.
The finished craft with a real skate egg case beside it.
Checking the labels for seaweed derived ingredients.
Loving the dulse!
