Tide Pools
Today the first graders headed off to a Massachusetts tide pool. In the classroom we keep live tide pools with organisms like horseshoe crabs, sea stars, sea urchins, brittle stars, shrimp, and more. The trip to the tide pool was to allow the students to explore the natural habitat of these organisms.
The day was beautiful with 64 degrees and sunny weather. The drive to the tide pool was long (over 1 hour) due to a traffic accident earlier. We arrived anxiously wanting to get off the bus and begin exploring. There were three classes with 66 students, 6 teachers, and 30 parent chaperones. The students and leaders walked over the dune walkway, down the beach, and over to the tide pools. The tide was extremely low which opens up lots of opportunities to explore between rocks. After leaving the bags, removing our shoes, and rolling up our pant legs, we got right into the icy cold water.
The school has made this trip for many, many years and we have watched the tide pool areas change and the organisms shrink in population. This year, the tide pool area was almost barren from sea grasses and other places for organisms to hide and eat. Among the sea grasses and rocks students would typically find crabs, sea stars, sea anemones, small fish, mussels, clams, periwinkles, shrimp and more. This year the students found many periwinkles, many crab moltings, a few live but small crabs, some fish, a few shrimp, a few mussels, and lots of barnacles on the rocks. We saw no sea stars, sea anemones, or clams. It makes me wonder why there are less and less organisms.
Although the students have been learning that all these organisms would be found in a New England tide pool, there was not one disappointed student. The students loved exploring the area. They climbed rocks, looked into crevices, reached into cracks and pulled out anything and everything (including trash) to look at more closely. Their enthusiasm was contagious and parents were wading into the waters and exploring side by side with the students. It was incredible!
This field trip to a tide pool is always a memorable trip and this year’s trip will remain with most of these students for years and years. They were able to take what they were learning in the classroom and see it in real form. Many people would say, “Oh, these kids have all seen tide pools and have been to the beaches of New England.” Maybe that is true, but this trip allows them to explore as scientists. They were using the knowledge that had gained and applied it to the exploration. They were not there to play, build sand castles, splash in the water, or just climb the rocks. They were looking through another lens and they loved that role.
The bus ride on the way back to school and back in the classroom brought conversations around what they each found and their concerns over why some organisms were missing. I heard some of the students discussing pollution and how that could have caused some of the organisms to leave. One student responded that there was no trash lying about. Another responded to that comment by saying, “Pollution is not just trash. There are lots and lots of chemicals that pollute and you can’t see them.” The conversation that continued was simple but their ideas and thoughts were just beginning. They are interested and they want to know and understand why. How exciting! This is what learning should be and I am feeling great that we are on our way in one of many journeys of learning!
