Organism Classification
Is that big tan cat you see a cougar, a mountain lion, a puma or a Florida panther? The answer is yes if you’re looking at a Puma concolor! Classification is the arrangement of objects, ideas, or information into groups. Organism classification groups all living things on the basis of certain characteristics they have in common and uses Latin words to give each animal and plant a name that identifies the organism. This field trip exposes students to methods used by scientists to classify organisms. After a brief indoor orientation, students will have the opportunity to classify the animals that live at Oatland Island.
Georgia performance standards: S5CS1, S5CS5, S5CS6, S5L1, S5L2
River of Sand
Most people love to spend time on the beach, but few realize the significance of the forces that act upon it, and the importance of the development of a healthy dune system. The “Beach Investigation” trip will explore the unique and ever-changing beach environment. Students will study the beach and dune ecosystems, focusing on the forces that threaten their stability and the organisms that contribute to a fascinating community.
Students and teachers will meet the Oatland teaching staff in the parking lot behind the Tybee Museum-across from the Tybee Lighthouse on Tybee Island
Georgia Performance Standards: S5CS1 (a, c, d), S5E1 (a,b,c)
Marine Ecology
Marine ecology includes the study of the ocean, estuaries, tidal creeks, and salt marshes. Tidal creeks serve as a nursery habitat for many of the ocean animal species. Students will take a closer look at how living and non-living things interact in the tidal creek habitat. Students will collect, observe, and identify plankton and other marine organisms, and investigate some of the abiotic factors that may have an effect on them. Students will also explore the many ways that humans benefit from, and influence the health of our coastal environment
Georgia Performance Standards: S5CS1 (a, c, d), S5CS3 (c, d), S5CS7 (a), S5CS8 (a, b), S5P2 (c), S5L1 (a)
Group Challenge
Working in groups is an everyday part of life. We find ourselves in a group when we are in a family, with our friends, and in the workplace. For this reason, it is important to function as effective group members and examine our roles in the group process. During this field trip, students will participate in mental and physical challenges that require full group cooperation and provide opportunities for students to function as effective group members while examining their individual roles in the group process.
Overnight
To reference Georgia Performance Standards visit: www.georgiastandards.org