Thalia Tucker , Jacob Pisani and Webber Jarvis take copious notes in the estuary . Students participated in three areas of study while on the Reserve .
The Wells Reserve sits on the Atlantic Ocean but is a very diverse location because it is also an estuary . This unique ecosystem gives visitors and students an opportunity to study multiple areas of science and biology - from small sea critters to the level of different natural and unnatural chemicals in the water . Ms . Rausch enjoys taking students to the Wells Reserve so they gain an appreciation for the important roles of estuaries .
“ Estuaries are one of the most productive marine ecosystems ,” Ms . Rausch said . “ They function as nurseries for many aquatic organisms like fish , lobster , crab , offer areas for migratory birds to refuel and help protect coastlines from erosion . Students appreciate the opportunity to connect concepts with data that they collect and interpret . Many enjoy the beauty of the estuary and love seeing a variety of birds , signs of animals and evidence of predation , all part of nature .”
“ The competition activity is my best memory of all ,” Anna said . “ We used different materials like stones and sponges to build our own " planktons " and put them in a water tank to see which of our planktons could suspend in water for the longest time . The purpose of this was to
explore how the physical features of planktons would make them float in different depths of water to acquire the perfect environment needed for survival . We were very enthusiastic about the competition and determined to win each other . There were so many laughs and so much fun !”
Beyond the Wells Reserve trip , Ms . Rausch takes a few other field trips throughout the year which give students more hands-on experience that supports what they learn in the classroom . While the destinations may not be the most glamorous , they are important spots to visit . “ Two other field trips that I always schedule include the Saco Wastewater Treatment Plant and Ecomaine ,” Ms . Rausch said . “ These trips focus on how we manage waste , current technology , issues , and limitations due to technology or economics ."
AP Environmental Science is a popular class which embraces a wide variety of topics from different areas of scientific study . The course unifies themes that include concepts such as science as a process , human impact on natural systems , the cultural and social context inherent in environmental challenges , and the dependence of human survival on the development of sustainable systems .
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