3 Station Educational Format - 3 groups,
15 minute stations
 Station
1 - Sailing and Navigation
Learn about electronic technology for navigation, triangulation,
line-of-sight, use of magnetic hand-held compasses, and other
elements of navigation. Students use hand-held compasses to
take 3 bearings on local landmarks. This information is recorded
on a datasheet along with readings of wind speed, weather
and depth as it relates to oceanic charts.
 Station
2 - Ecology
Learn information about the Monterey Bay Sanctuary's characteristics
and marine life and habitats. Discussion includes the kelp
forest, marine mammals, human influence on our marine habitat
and related ecosystems, threats to the bay, and ideas for
conservation and preservation. Visual aids are used to emphasize
concepts. A water sample is taken to learn about pH. On the
way back to the harbor, students count the number of otters
in Black’s Beach kelp forest and record this information
on their data sheet.
 Station
3 - Marine Biology
Discussion includes the life cycles of plankton, their role
in the food web and the unique chemical and physical balance
that helps maintain life in the sea. Students participate
in a plankton tow and the specimen is taken back to the classroom
for further examination. A water sample is also taken back
to test its salinity using a refractometer.
After returning from their outing on the Catamaran, students
move to the shore side Education
Center to continue their research.
|
