AHS Oceanography and Marine Biology Students Hit The Beach

     On an overcast yet pleasant Monday afternoon (Sept 29th), 75 Andover High School students loaded up a pair of buses with research equipment and field guides and headed for the beach at the Parker River National Wildlife Reserve on Plum Island in Newbury, MA.  The students were all enrolled in Andover High Schools Oceanography/Marine Biology or Marine Science courses taught by AHS science teacher Jennifer Rodier.  The purpose of the trip was to observe and investigate first hand many of the concepts presented and explored in the classroom in each of these courses.

AHS Science Teacher Jen Rodier checks in with a work group.

    Upon arrival, students divided into two main groups - one for tidal pool survey and investigation and one for a beach walk/scavenger hunt/landforms observation.  Ms. Rodier supervised and supported small student groups setting up one by one meter transects at different positions of the tidal zone.  Students collected specimens for observation and recorded data for comparison with other student groups set up in different areas within the intertidal zone.

Teacher Sarah Fisher talks about geological aspects of the beach environment.

     While one group worked among the rocks and tide pools, another group walked along the beach with AHS science teacher and earth science specialist Sarah Fisher to both search for specimens to identify and observe, to learn about the dynamic nature beaches as a land formations, and to gather up as much trash along the way as possible.  Also joining the group was retired math teacher Bill Drummond, a nationally recognized expert birder, who helped to identify numerous species of birds in the area.

Fending off the sandwich thieving gulls while enjoying lunch

     Aside from some mechanical problems with one of the buses on the return trip, the beach excursion was enjoyed by all students who were able to both apply their coursework learning in an authentic setting while squeezing in a little picnicking and football before returning to Andover High.