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Middle School Field Trip

Posted by on April 3, 2016
1 ANSC sign

Perhaps the highlight of tutoring math at a local middle school was the day I chaperoned the 6th graders on their field trip to the Austin Nature & Science Center and Zilker Park.

2 netting organisms

One of the special ed teachers and I had a dirty dozen of students to keep track of while we toured ANSC. We sat on some logs, listened to our guide, who solicited a list from the students, of living (biotic) and nonliving (abiotic) things that made up the surrounding ecology.

3 netting organisms

Then, she gave every student a net and asked them to capture some biotic things. Students loosely paired up, swinging those nets more wildly than the native fauna warranted. The guide incorporated some big finds into a jar. At the conclusion of the netting activity, students released whatever they had captured and returned their nets. Our guide talked about the animals, mostly insects and spiders, contained in the jar.

4 reflecting pond

In between activities, we waited near a relaxing pool of water that had a waterfall. How wonderful it was to witness students’ attention captured by nature rather than an electronic device.

We then entered a circular room, sat on a carpet and discussed the difference between a food chain and a food web. We reviewed the ultimate source of energy, which is the sun. Producers, such as plants, capture solar energy and consumers obtain energy through eating producers and/or other consumers.

5 hissing cockroaches

The first consumers introduced were Madagascar hissing cockroaches, which some adventurous students petted.  I opted to feel my own fingernails since they were made from the same keratin as cockroach exoskeletons.

6 frog

Next, a frog, who was stereotypically jumpy, was passed around while remaining confined in his cage.

7 turtle

The turtle appeared comfortable enough to stay out of his shell as students touched it.

8 quail

The quail remained caged although I would’ve loved watching its attempt to fly to freedom.

9 crawfish

The last time I saw crawfish they were served up on a plate. At this point, I could’ve embedded myself into the food web.

10 ferret

As soon as the ferret was taken out of its cage, I smelled its signature musk.

11 milk snake

This beautiful milk snake had a protective pillowcase that matched its rich burgundy color. Talk about fashionable accessories!

12 nature walk

After reviewing what eats what in the food web, we entered the nature hike area. I loved how these 6th graders looked so at home in nature, which seemed to have a calming effect on them.

13 nature walk

Imagine stopping to literally smell flowers rather than check an electronic device.

15 nature walk

At one point, we visited an aquatic habitat and some students captured tadpoles.

16 tadpoles

One student caught this dragonfly larvae.

17 dragonfly larvae

Most, however, simply mucked around the perimeter.

18 scavenging for tadpoles

For the second half of the field trip, we ate lunch at Zilker Park.  

19 kite tree

Many of the trees had kites stuck in them from the kite day celebration the day before.

20 kite trees
21 kite tree
22 kite tree
23 kite tree
24 kite tree

Many students played soccer–or at least ran around kicking a soccer ball.

25 playing field

Others amused themselves jumping around on the rocky outcropping.

26 rock playground

A few tried their hand at sand volleyball.

27 sand volleyball

As much as we all enjoyed the outing, it’s a shame field trips such as these are rarities.

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