Grade 2 Students Discover Ocean Wonders at Crystal Cove Tide Pools

The tide pools at Crystal Cove State Park once again became a dynamic outdoor classroom as grade 2 students embarked on a highly anticipated field trip to the rocky Crystal Cove this week. Led by grade 2 teachers Erin Moore, Clementine Saggiani '12, and Maclay Gallman, the field trip blended science exploration, experiential learning, and cross-divisional collaboration, on a beautiful Southern California day highlighting the power of learning by the sea.

Joining the field trip were Upper School marine science and STEAM club students who guided the younger students and presented their projects on tide pool animal adaptations. The Upper School students, who had previously conducted their own field study of the intertidal zones, shared interactive models and research explaining how organisms survive in the constantly changing conditions of the splash, high, mid, and low tide zones.

Another rotation brought students to a station created by David Beshk, Lower School science teacher, where science concepts came to life through hands-on exploration. Building on their classroom study of waterways and landforms, students constructed rivers, islands, valleys, and plateaus in the sand. They observed how water movement shapes the land, connecting their prior lessons on erosion, weathering, and geography to the coastal landscape surrounding them.

Here are photos and videos from the beautiful day!