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WASHBURN – Students from Washburn recently became scientists for a day at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland. The students were taken into some science exploration at the high-tech learning center.
Photo courtesy of Christie Cochran
Courtney Hartsgrove and Brittany Turcotte, both students at Washburn Elementary School, take digital photographs of their X-Fish specimen to document the features they are using to identify their mystery species. These photos will be used when the team explains its findings to the group and were saved to a personalized team Web site they can later share with family and friends. (Watch for more photos with a future Washburn News column.)
They saw, on a large screen, photos that zoomed in from space, taking them on a virtual trip from their own school yard and down the watershed to the Gulf of Maine. This proved interesting, especially to students from our inland part of Maine, some of whom have never seen the ocean.
Participants were guided on the tour by science professionals and learned about what makes the Gulf of Maine and what scientists are doing to better understand it.
The students divided into small teams and took on the role of scientists to conduct cooperative hands-on research at several interactive discovery stations. Their main goal was to solve the “Mystery of the X-Fish.”
Using the scientific methods and authentic research tools, the students made and tested their own theories, examined specimens and live fish, collected and saved information and worked together to draw conclusions and explain their reasoning.
The students used a digital microscope to discover what the X-Fish ate and what role it plays in the Gulf of Maine food web. They also got to take a virtual research cruise and a fishing trip to learn what habitat the X-Fish lives in and how fishermen find them.
They also observed and physically mimicked fish in a schooling tank to understand their behavior and examine the morphology, comparing and contrasting it with digital identification keys to identify the species.
As they worked, students made video records of their hypotheses and conclusions as they worked together to solve this science mystery.
All the Washburn students truly enjoyed their tour of the science world, bringing home not only a better understanding of the Gulf and the sea life within it, but also many pleasant memories that will provide topics for future discussions, both at home and at school.
