Students from the Vermilion Parish Gifted Program recently embarked on an adventure they will soon not forget. Teachers Leah Trahan, Katie Primeaux, Betsy Hackett, and Karen McCain took their students in grades 5-12 on a field trip to Dauphin Island Sea Lab in Dauphin Island, Alabama. During the two-day field trip students were immersed in activities such as trawling in Mobile Bay to collect specimens, examining and touching a wide variety of preserved specimens, dissecting a squid, using scientific equipment to observe plankton, building their own plankton and participating in plankton races, and building their own remotely operated vehicle (ROV). They also tested their underwater robot design and driving skills by deploying the ROV’s in the Sea Lab Swimming Pool.
The field trip was a great experience for the students. They took part in classroom lectures, laboratory, and field experiences. All classes were led by a team of world-class marine educators. The students learned about new and exciting technology that scientist use to study the ocean, studied the anatomy of cephalopods through a well structured squid dissection, as well as learned about the biology, ecology, and diversity of the incredible ecosystem in Mobile Bay. All of this helped the students gain an understanding of coastal and ocean issues and no doubt helped broaden the base for students interested in studying marine science in college.
The educational programs at Dauphin Island Sea Lab main goal is science literacy and a better stewardship through an appreciation of the importance of the ocean and coastal areas in our lives. This trip was a parish wide effort by all of the Vermilion Parish TAG (academically gifted) program teachers. The students had so much fun and were filled with a wealth of knowledge about environmental science issues and conservation. This trip was not only enjoyable but highly educational!
The field trip was a great experience for the students. They took part in classroom lectures, laboratory, and field experiences. All classes were led by a team of world-class marine educators. The students learned about new and exciting technology that scientist use to study the ocean, studied the anatomy of cephalopods through a well structured squid dissection, as well as learned about the biology, ecology, and diversity of the incredible ecosystem in Mobile Bay. All of this helped the students gain an understanding of coastal and ocean issues and no doubt helped broaden the base for students interested in studying marine science in college.
The educational programs at Dauphin Island Sea Lab main goal is science literacy and a better stewardship through an appreciation of the importance of the ocean and coastal areas in our lives. This trip was a parish wide effort by all of the Vermilion Parish TAG (academically gifted) program teachers. The students had so much fun and were filled with a wealth of knowledge about environmental science issues and conservation. This trip was not only enjoyable but highly educational!