Young Explorer Day - Sea Star 2018

The Young Explorer program last Wednesday was all about sea stars and their relatives. We started by exploring the intertidal zone (beach). We didn't discover any sea stars but we did find green crabs, a rock gunnel fish, periwinkles, barnacles and sideswimmers. We collected a few of each animal and brought them back to the lab to study. Everyone created a field guide using the animals that were collected.

We learned that sea stars are echinoderms (spiny skinned invertebrates) and are related to sea urchins, sand dollars, blood stars, sunstars and sea cucumbers. We had live animals in the lab to observe and touch. We discussed how these animals move, what they eat and how they sense their environment.

Exploring the beach at low tide.

We found lots of animals including this green crab carrying eggs.

Back in the lab creating a field guide of the animals from the beach. This is a rock gunnel fish.

We also found barnacles and got to see them feeding.

After the echinoderm show and tell we had a touch tank in the lab.

Human etch-a-sketch. This is a sea urchin.

Having a closer look at sea stars and urchins. Where are the sea stars eye spots?