Fellow: Jennifer Porcheddu  Teacher: Jessica Geier

Course Purpose

The purpose of Estuary Explorers is to introduce students to coastal ecosystems, and scientific methods for investigatiing these ecosystems.  Students will learn about environmental factors shaping shorelines, and the plants and animals that rely on these ecosystems. Students will be able to perform several types of field surveys and water quality testing. Students will also learn to read, analyze, and compose scientific research papers.

Click here for an introductory presentation to get students, teachers, parents and administrators excited about this fun new course!

Course Description

Doesn't every child want to be a marine biologist at some point?  This course gives teachers and students to engage in real marine ecology research, close to home! Estuary Explorers will engage students in scientific inquiry and fieldwork in coastal ecosystems.

This course is designed for high school students at all levels, but links and adaptations for younger/ differently-abled students are provided as well.

Prerequisites (for standard EE course; modifications for lower performers provided)

• Students will read/write on at least an eighth-grade level.
• Students will have a basic understanding of the following biological concepts: food webs, trophic levels, adaptation, biotic and abiotic parts of ecosystem.
• Students will have basic understanding of the following geologic concepts: seasons, tides.