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10:39:00 PM EDT
Feeling Happy
Water Ecology: The Ohio River Foundation class today
Aquatic Ecology: Just About Fish (our ongoing unit study about aquatic ecology)
Today was a wonderful five hour long program about the Ohio River. My dear friend Laura Riesenberg set it up. It was very well attended--there were so many kids there that we had never met before!
Fernbank Park (located on Hwy 50 close to Sayler Park Schools)
9:30 AM to 2 PM
Cost: $6 per child (payable the day of event..cash or check) kindergarten through highschool
Most homeschool events cost about five to six dollars. It makes homeschooling pretty affordable to most people. Remember, we still pay taxes to support our public school systems as well as provide for the education of our own kids.
Field Trip Timetable :
A typical field trip lasts 4-5 hours with a 30 minute sack lunch break. Lunch is not provided by Ohio River Foundation and should be brought by the student. All students will rotate through each of the learning stations for 1 hour per station.Below is a description of the 3 learning stations that will be presented at this activity. Generally, program participants rotate through the available learning stations for 1 hour per station. This format allows us to connect with students in small groups where hands-on learning is easier to facilitate.
One of the things we found most interesting about the mussels is that there used to be a thriving local industy to make buttons out of mussels. It died when the plastic button industry came along. The mussel population never recovered.
• Mussel Mania : Did you know there are monkey face and pig snouts in the Ohio River? Just what does a baby bi-valve look like? How many eggs do mussels produce at one time? Discover the unique life cycles of the mussels of the Ohio River and see how they have evolved to survive as a part of the river's ecosystem. Learn how the mussels' well adapted anatomy helps them resist attack from most predators. Did you know the Zebras are attacking? This exotic invasive species is muscling its way into the ecosystem, destroying the native populations, and has made species such as the pink mucket, orangefoot, fat pocketbook, clubshell, and fanshell endangered. Learn how these interlopers starve the natives and what can be done to stop them!
My daughters recognized many of the different species of local fish. That is not surprising, since my husband's undergraduate specialty was local ichthyology. The lampreys made everyone shudder. They are pretty scary looking.
• Fish Factor: What can you tell about the way a fish lives by how it is physically structured? The answer is… everything! Don gloves and examine preserved and live fish specimens to learn about fish morphology, life cycle, and population levels. Biology at its best!
• River Chemistry: C.S.I. team needed! We found some dead fishes and we need a top notch investigative team to figure out why. Our prime suspect is the water. We need you to test samples of river water for oxygen, temperature, and more. Learn why these parameters are so important to river health and fish longevity and vitality.
Through discussion and hands on activities, all modules will explore what changes, small and large, can improve the environment and the Ohio River. By learning about their individual roles in the environment, students will be empowered to live in an ecologically friendly way.
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That photo just "cracks" me up! Oh, and interesting entry too! LOL! Lisa
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LOL all the photos are great...but the butt crack one made me grin too. ;-)
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I htink I saw a little crack up there LOL
5/22/05 5:42 PM
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