Crestwood Academy - Day 4

Saturday was the final day for Crestwood Academy.  In the morning the students and teachers went to Pottery Creek to search for marine worms.  At Pottery Creek the students found some large Clam worm specimens as well as many hungry gulls.
Later in the morning, and in to the afternoon, students presented their findings from the zonation data collection completed on Friday as well as their results from the invertebrate behaviour experiments.

 

The tide was already on its way in when students arrived at Pottery Creek Saturday morning.

 

A Clam worm is found!

 

The clam worm released into the water 'swims'.

 

Students looking for more interesting worm specimens.

 

The gulls were looking for 'specimens' of their own.

 

This group was presenting their findings from the zonation activity.

 

Here the students present their findings on the rate at which Green Sea Urchins will right themselves when flipped over.

Crestwood Academy - Day 3

Zonation was the activity for this morning. The students found a place at the low tide mark and using a transect line compiled data as they moved up the beach to the high tide mark. The students collected information about the type and number of animals found, the type and percentage covered of seaweed as well as recorded the topography of the beach. Later on in the day the students will graph their findings and tomorrow will present these to the rest of the group. Also this afternoon Crestwood students will be touring the Atlantic Reference Centre (ARC).

 

Students begin their measurements as close to the low tide line as possible.

 

These students have worked out a system in which each person has a job to do; some measure, some count and others record.

 

The tide was slowly creeping up behind the groups as they worked.

 

These students are measuring the change in elevation.

 

There is a significant climb coming up for these students. Note where the shadows are.

 

 

Here Mr. Podlovics supervises the measurement of this steep change in elevation.

Crestwood Academy - Day 2

This morning found the students on Indian Point beach to study the intertidal environment.  Afterwards students returned to the lab to classify many of the marine invertebrates collected yesterday and this morning.  After lunch, behavioural experiments were conducted.  Some tested the length of time it takes for echinoderms to right themselves after being turned over. Others tested the feeding rate of barnacles at various temperatures and the response of various other arthropods to light.

 

Here Tracey explains the lab procedure.

 

Each bowl contained at least three creatures from different phyla.

 

Students from Crestwood Academy take their work seriously.

 

This Green Crab was found to be missing a claw and one leg.

 

When this sea star flipped it ended with two legs crossed. Ta DA!

 

Here the students are attempting to sort and classify various types of marine algae.

 

By spreading it out, this student gets a better look at the blade of the seaweed.

 

An example of a variety of sizes of Green Sea Urchins.

 

These students are keeping a close eye on water temperature while observing the feeding rate of barnacles.

 

Here they are testing the crab's response to light.

Crestwood Academy

Crestwood Academy School arrived on Wednesday to begin learning about the Bay of Fundy.  The students were split into three groups for the day. Each group followed a rotational schedule that included a tour of the discovery centre, a trip out on the boat to collect specimens and lab work on plankton.

 

Here students use the microscopes to find and identify zooplankton and phytoplankton.

 

 

This group of Crestwood students had a very wet but informative boat ride.

 

A large rock crab was one of the prized specimens in this bucket.

Royal West - Day 3&4

On Friday Royal West Academy students began the morning by conducting various behavioural experiments in the lab. Some students were testing the feeding rate of barnacles in different temperatures and some students observed the average time for a sea star or urchin to right itself when flipped over.  These were just a few of the many interesting experiments conducted.
After lunch the students went in search of worms at Pottery Creek.  Each group was given a shovel and an identification sheet to see which group could find the most interesting, longest, ugliest etc. worm.  One group found the longest ribbon worm seen at the Huntsman to date. After the worm dig the students used the rest of the afternoon to explore St. Andrews and to work on their zonation graphs and lab presentations.
On Saturday morning the students gathered to present their findings from their zonation experience as well as the results they obtained in the lab during the behavioural experiments.  Many creative and interesting presentations were given. Well done Royal West.

Two students examining the ways in which a sea star may right itself when turned on its' back.

 

These students are testing the strength of the Green Sea Urchin's tube feet.

This group of students hold up their find of a very long ribbon worm.

Here another student poses with the long polychaete. It is as long as she is tall!

More students hoping to find a rare specimen.

 

Tracey supervises and offers advice on how to find the best worm specimens.

 

 

Royal West - Day 2

Today students from Royal West Academy began the day in the lab identifying different types of seaweed.  Students used a dichotomous key to help in the identification. Later in the morning students studied the anatomy of the Green Sea Urchin. They drew and labelled parts of the urchin including the mouth, the madreporite, tube feet, spines and pedicellariae. 
  After lunch the group was out at Holey Point to start collecting data for their zonation project.  Students used a transect line and quadrat to help them collect information pertaining to the topography of the beach as well as the living things found there, such as any animals or seaweeds. This evening students will create posters to highlight their findings and these will be presented to the group on Saturday morning.

 

Students work to identify and name the various types of seaweed.

 

Here a student is using a dissection microscope to get a closer look and the surface of the Green Sea Urchin.

 

A look through the microscope at the urchin. You can see the longer primary spines as well as the shorter secondary spines. These are used for defence.

 

Here two students measure out the distance between their quadrats.

 

Some groups found Green Crabs along the beach.

 

Each group worked along a different section of the beach so that their data could potentially be compiled into a more detailed analysis of the topography of the entire beach.

Royal West Academy

   Today a group of 45 Grade 10 students from Royal West Academy arrived.  We began our day by dividing the students into 3 groups that they would remain in for the days activities.  The groups went through a rotational schedule that included a trip out on the Fundy Spray to collect plankton and invertebrate specimens. Also while on the boat, the students collected data about the light penetration of the water and also salinity.  Other activities included a lab on plankton where the students completed a number of scientific drawings and also a tour of the aquarium.  Students also began classifying the local marine invertebrates.
   After lunch all students explored Indian Point in search of more invertebrate specimens.  While at Indian Point our group was able to witness the tide coming in and a few students were caught unaware and as a result left the beach with wet feet. On our return to the Huntsman, the students resumed the rotational schedule from the morning.  In the evening the groups had the opportunity to return to the lab to complete the classification activity started that morning.

 

 

Students searching for the perfect specimen of plankton.

 

Here is one of the more interesting specimens found in today's plankton drag. It appeared to be an annelid of some sort.

 

Students searching for specimens on Indian Point.

 

At low tide the beach is very long.

 

Students looked along the beach and in the water for the perfect invertebrate.

 

Here students are waiting while the scallop drag is completed.

 

This was the last group of students on the boat for the day. They are making an 'S' sign as they named there group the Sensational Squids!

Quispamsis - Day 3

On Thursday we were joined by the final group of Grade 6 students from Quispamsis. These students also learnt about the Linnaeus Classification system, which is a system developed hundreds of years ago to classify and describe all living things.  Next the students attended a seal feeding where they found out that seals, during the winter, eat up to 40 herring a day. Later in the day, students also discovered  some interesting facts about lobster, such as, they have two stomachs and can smell with their feet.  In the afternoon they were taught about plankton.  One interesting thing they learnt is that plant plankton (phytoplankton), although microscopic, is very important as it is responsible for producing two-thirds of the world's oxygen supply.

 

Here students are deciding which criteria they will use to classify or group things.

 

Students worked hard to give a detailed drawing and description of various marine invertebrates.

 

Students watching the seal feeding were very impressed by the learnt behaviours of Snorkel and Loki.

 

A copepod under the microscope. This is the plankton the Plankton from Spongebob is based on. See any resemblance?