The underlining goal of the Wellesley Public School science curriculum is to enable students to
become active, responsible citizens.
Students will:
� see science as a way of understanding the world and not only as an academic activity
� develop knowledge and scientific ways of thinking and communicating throughout a life time
� value integrity, curiosity, openness to new ideas, skepticism, and imagination
FOR OUR SECOND GRADE UNIT ON TIDE POOLS, the Biomes Marine Biology Center provides us with a
sea tank in our classroom for five weeks. During that time, students get to closely observe four
different rotating groups of tide pool organisms: echinoderms, crustaceans, mollusks, and fish. In
small groups, children learn how to observe and handle the various organisms. They share their
observations and they guess reasons why each group of organisms is classified together. Through
this guided discovery model of education, children learn that organisms are classified according to
their characteristics and they are adapted to their environment.
In their tide pool journals, children learn to record their observations and make scientific drawings
with labels. Children analyze how the tide pool organisms are classified in relation to their
observations and they synthesize their learning through class discussions.
SPECIAL RELATED PROGRAMS:
The Traveling Tide Pool Program: The New England Aquarium comes to visit our school with models
of three different kinds of tide pools: the rocky shore, the sandy shore, and the muddy saltmarsh.
Children learn about how the tide pool organisms that live in each type of tide pool must have body
parts that are specifically adapted to that environment. Children thouroughly enjoy the opportunity
to observe and handle the live organisms in each of the three tide pool displays. Many thanks to the
Creative Arts Committee for sponsoring this special program for each of the second grades at
Schofield!
Michael Glaser: This author/naturalist comes to visit each second grade classroom at Schofield with
copies of his published books and cartons of fascinating sea creatures. Mr. Glaser explains to the
children the process that he went through to publish each of this books, and he shows them copies
of his book at various stages from brainstorming, through many drafts, to final publication. He also
has a lot to teach the children about the sea creatures he brings. Children always enjoy Mr. Glaser's
visits because they love to see and touch this sea creatures and he understands second grade humor
very well! Many thanks to the Creative Arts Committee for sponsoring Mr. Glaser's visit!
RELATED CLASS FIELD TRIP:
In October, all of the second grades from Schofield will go together to Rexhame Beach in Marshfield,
MA to go on a tide pooling expedition. On this field trip, children get to explore firsthand a tide
pool habitat. There they will have the opportunity to discover tide pool organisms that they will be
studying more closely in our classroom sea tank. In past years we have found all kinds of crabs,
starfish, snails, barnacles, eels, and sea urchins on this excursion. We've also seen a crab filled with
bright orange eggs and a skate. Tide pooling is an exciting adventure for everyone!
RELATED FAMILY OUTING POSSIBILITIES:
New England Aquarium: This aquarium is located at Central Wharf on Boston Harbor. There are
many fascinating displays there including: penguins, seals, sea otters, and "Amazing Jellies." At the
center, there is a giant ocean tank that holds sea turtles, barracudas, sharks, and many other
fascinating fish. Some of my favorite displays, however, are the sea horses, the sea dragons, and the
octopus. Children will love to touch and/or hold sea stars, sea urchins, crabs, and periwinkles in the
tide pool exhibit called, "The Edge of the Sea." (Remember that you can get passes for discounted
tickets at the Wellesley Public Library!)
Biomes Marine Biology Center: This marine biology education center is located in Kingston, R.I.
They provide us with our 5-week sea tank program. At their center, they have fascinating displays of
sea creatures including one where flounder change from black to white before children's eyes as they
swim from black sand to white sand in the sea tank. Children will also see a remora sticking to the
glass of one tank, sea horses in another, etc. They get to touch horseshoe crabs and other tide pool
creatures in the touch tank and they get to pet sharks (peaceful ones called dogfish). Check out their
website on my science links page. You can arrange to visit them or even to have your child's
birthday party there.
Seacoast Science Center: If you want to take a drive up to Rye, N.H., you might enjoy visiting this
delightful little aquarium center at Odiorne Point State Park. They have interesting exhibits including
an indoor tide pool touch tank. They have many educational visitor programs as well, including
guide-led tide pooling expeditons on their rocky shore. Check out their website on my science links
page.
