Homeschool Field Trip

Today I joined some wonderful homeschool families at Indian Point to explore the intertidal zone.  We found lots of animals including crabs (many with eggs), sea stars, urchins, sideswimmers, and sea slugs hiding under the rocks.  The children did a great job of turning the rocks back when they were finished having a peek underneath.  It was a great morning!
 

The intertidal zone we explored this morning 

(at high tide it will all be covered by water).

Many of the animals were found hiding under rocks.

The transparent legs on the left side of the crab are just growing back.

One of sea stars striking a pose.

We found a few rock gunnel fish.

Whoa, that's a big urchin!

Toronto Waldorf - Day 3 & 4

On Tuesday the students conducted an experiment to determine the effect of temperature on the feeding rate of barnacles.  The temperatures ranged from 5 to 25 degrees Celsius and the optimum did appear to be in the centre at around 15 degrees.  They toured a part of the Huntsman called the Atlantic Reference Centre (or ARC) which is a research museum for marine animals from the North Atlantic.  A very cool place with aisles and aisles of preserved specimens, many of which are from the deep sea.

In the afternoon the group completed a right-side up experiment with sea star and urchins to see if size affects flipping rate.  The smaller sea stars were faster.  Between species, the sea stars were faster than the urchins.

The group also did the Almost Amazing Marine Race around the town of St. Andrews, hitting stops such as Kingsbrae Garden, the Creative Playground, the Loyalist cemetery and the Algonquin Hotel.

Today the students helped us to gather data on an invasive species called the green crab.  In an hour the students found 203 crabs!  

Counting the cirri extensions of the barnacles.

Waiting for the temperature of the seawater to go up.

Barnacles in action.

Viper fish...look at those teeth!

Shrimp from the deep sea.

Flexible sea star.

Not so flexible sea urchin.

Gathering data on green crabs, an invasive species.

How many crabs do you see under this rock?

Once counted the crabs got a spot of nail polish.

Toronto Waldorf - Day 2

Yesterday we started the day in the lab having a closer look at sea stars and sea urchins.  The students learned about the movement of the echinoderms using the water vascular system and saw it in action.  Then we toured the Huntsman Fundy Discovery Aquarium and had a chance to see lots of different fish and invertebrates that live in the Bay of Fundy.  The students enjoyed Snorkel and Loki, the harbour seals.

After lunch the group had a tour of the historic Van Horne Estate on Ministers Island.  At high tide it is a true island but at low tide it can be accessed by walking across a sand bar.  On the island is the summer estate of Sir William Van Horne who was the driving force behind the Canadian Pacific Railway.  It was a lovely sunny day to walk and tour the island.

Looking at the anatomy of the echinoderms using the microscope.

Sea urchin magnified.

Drawing and labelling the urchin and sea star.

Touring the aquarium.

Viewing the harbour seals underwater.

Seahorses feeding.

A big, blue lobster!

Watching Snorkel and Loki having lunch.

Enjoying the touch tank.

Waiting for the tide to go down so we can walk to the island.

Walking on the ocean floor.

The summer home of Sir William Van Horne.

Inside the home, Covenhoven.

Van Horne's grandson's room.

Heading to the bathhouse.

Touring the massive barn.

Leaving the island.  Take note of how much is exposed compared to when we first crossed.

Toronto Waldorf - Day 1

Yesterday the students from Toronto Waldorf School started their immersion into marine biology on the Huntsman campus.  They went on the research vessel, the Fundy Spray, they studied plankton and marine invertebrates in the lab, and explored the intertidal zone as the tide was going out.  The weather was beautiful and it was a great to finish the day on the beach!

Studying plankton using the microscopes.

Copepod

Drawing what they see through the microscope.

Plankton bingo!

There was a worm in the plankton samples.

Identifying marine invertebrates in the lab.

The rock crab was a favourite to study in the lab!

Exploring the intertidal zone. 

The students found some green crabs.

They also found sea slugs and their eggs.

Glenview - Day 4

Yesterday the Glenview students had time to get up close and personal with the animals they collected throughout the week.  They also did an art exploration of the aquarium and toured the historic Van Horne Estate on Ministers Island.  In the evening the students competed in the Almost Amazing Marine Race around St. Andrews.  Congrats team 3 on the win!

Students observing the invertebrates they collected this week.

There was lots of diversity.

Getting up close and personal with the animals.

Learning a bit about classification in the lab.

Art in the aquarium.

Wow!

Touring the Van Horne Estate on Ministers Island.

Inside Sir William Van Horne's summer home.

Covenhoven

The beautiful bathhouse.

Exploring the beach and the former saltwater swimming pool.

The windmill that pumped water into the house.

Van Horne's massive barn that housed many animals including his dutch belted cows.

Van Horne raised the windows when he caught the workers looking out one day.

Walking back across the bar the connects the island to the mainland at low tide.