This document provides an overview of an environmental science elective class for 6th grade students focused on the marine environment. The class goals are to give students an overview of the marine environment and relationships within it, teach students how to collect, identify and classify marine life, and provide students an opportunity to compare and contrast body structures of animals in relation to function, classification, and adaptation. Students spend the first four weeks learning physical and chemical oceanography fundamentals. They then go seining every other Friday to learn proper specimen handling and identification techniques. Later, students explore animal structure and function through dissections and observations. The class culminates in an imaginary boat race where students apply navigation, teamwork, and decision-making skills.

1. at Flour Bluff Cliff Strain A Hands-on elective in environmental science OCEANS 6th Grade

2. Class Goals Give students an overview of the marine environment and relationships within it. Teach students how to collect, identify and classify marine life. Provide students an opportunity to compare /contrast body structures of animals in relation to function, classification, and adaptation.

3. Students spend the first 4 weeks of this semester-long class learning the basics of physical and chemical oceanography (waves, tides,water chemistry)

4. After an orientation, students go out seining every other Friday during class time.Technique and proper handling of specimens is emphasized.

5. Students explore animal structure and function through dissections and observing live specimens. We begin with the simplest animals and work up to marine mammals.

6. In an imaginary race at the semester’s end, students learn basic navigation and seamanship, teamwork, and good decision-making .

7. Accomplishments Over the Years Student monitored water quality Students, parents, and local agencies built a model of a wetland. Many students get their first-ever boat ride on field trip. Increased aptitude in science with past ocean students. Winner of the GLO Environmental Challenge Grant in 1997 6 years as Master Teacher for the Teaching Environmental Sciences class at TAMU-CC

8. Students Also Learn: Setup, care, and maintenance of the 17 tanks in the classroom How to use and maintain field equipment like a refractometer, coring tool, discovery scope, secchi disk, and compass. How to use chemical field tests for dissolved oxygen, pH, and dissolved nutrients. About issues and careers in U.S. fisheries and their management.