Third Grade SAIL: Marine Science
 
 
Third Grade SAIL
Rudy Mancke of SC Naturescene visits our JBE Ttouch tank. Filmstrips are created by students to accompany invertebrate research.
Students get up close and personal with DETRITUS in the  salt marsh mudpit at Barrier Island Environmental Education Center.

 Third grade SAIL is one self-contained year of Marine Science with emphasis on the salt marsh, beach, and barrier island ecology. In particular, students choose one marine invertebrate to study in depth.  Students also manage and care for the 70 gallon touch tank at school. Students meet with the SAIL teacher for two hours and thirty minutes.
 
 

The sequence of hands-on lessons is roughly this:

Why study marine science?
Why study marine invertebrates?
Using a taxonomy key
Long term home assignment: Invertebrate booklet in which students observe and draw examples of invertebrates
Importance of the salt marsh and wetland metaphors
Tournament and quiz bowl on the above
Research on the five phyla studied in taxonomy using cooperative learning technique of Teams/ Games/ Tournaments
Individual research on an invertebrate of choice
Filmstrip creation to accompany research
Research paper completed
Presentation skills taught and practiced
New knowledge used to teach touch tank lessons to other classes using live invertebrates
Dissections of several invertebrates

Major trips through out the year include:
     The Charleston Explorer Boat trip
     Barrier Island Environmental Education Center: 3 days and 2 nights
        For more info click here
      Dewees Island for lesson in sustainable development and the beach environment.
Three or more students take part in a tournament on marine invertebrates. Third grade SAIL students feed the invertebrates in the JBE touch tank.


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