FROM DESK
TO ESTUARY :
Connecting classroom lessons with real world application .
IN THE CLASSROOM
Webber Jarvis retrieves a sample for measurements of the salt and other chemicals in the composition of the estuary water .
Last fall , members of Ms . Bobbi Rausch ’ s AP Environmental Science class were able to connect what they were learning in the classroom to real world application by visiting the Wells Reserve to learn and conduct experiments in the field .
“ The goal was to introduce students to field work while connecting curriculum – specifically ecology concepts ,” Ms . Rausch said . “ The focus was understanding how abiotic conditions ( temperature , salinity , pH , soil type , etc …) within an ecosystem influence biotic factors ( what life exists there ).”
For students , leaving campus to dive deeper into the themes they were studying in class was both exciting and practical . “ Hands-on learning provides opportunities for students to become familiar with new experimental instruments and actually learn how to use them ,” said Anna Xu ’ 23 . “ For me , by collecting samples from a local estuary and testing them , I could have an exact idea of what the water condition is for that estuary , connecting my knowledge learned in class to the local environments in Maine . This also allows me to have a peek into researchers ' daily routines in monitoring and keeping the water healthy . I sincerely respect the effort they put in for improving the environment in our community .”
14 Story by Jeff Christenbury · Photos courtesy of Jeff Christenbury