PHOTOS: Marine Science Field Study in Dana Point Tide Pools Engages Upper School Students

St. Margaret’s Upper School marine science students moved their classroom to the ocean.
St. Margaret’s Upper School marine science students moved their classroom to the ocean last week, taking various tools and guides to the Dana Point tide pools for a valuable field study.
 
The students trekked north of the Ocean Institute in Dana Point during low tide and did extensive observations and testing at the tide pools. The students brought along tools to test the water’s pH, dissolved oxygen, temperature and salinity. They searched for different organisms, such as hermit crabs, in the intertidal zone, using field guides created in class to identify them and collecting data on what they observed.
 
Organized by Upper School science teacher Jennifer Ross-Viola, the field study is an annual springtime trip for the class, which requires flexible scheduling to coincide with a weekday low tide. This year’s field study was one of the first academic trips away from campus since the beginning of the pandemic last year, and numerous protocols were followed to adhere to local health guidelines.
 
“We are fortunate to have the ocean and these tide pools close to St. Margaret’s,” Dr. Ross-Viola said. “It is so valuable to be able to visit this environment and apply our in-class learning in an experiential way.”
 
Marine science is an Upper School semester elective in science which covers various topics, including life in a marine environment, the chemical and physical features of seawater, marine ecosystems, the anatomy and physiology of marine organisms, and the impact of humans on the ocean.
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An Independent Preschool Through Grade 12 College-Preparatory Day School in Orange County California

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