An Ocean In-doors?

Everyone knows there are fish in the Boston Harbor but who knew they were inside of a building!  On Tuesday, June 5th, the fourth grade took a trip to the N.E. Aquarium.  Everyone in the fourth grade enjoyed the field trip.  Here are some things we saw and learned.

In the field trip to the N.E.A. we were all put into groups of four to five people. Then we were assigned a chaperon. After that we had an hour to look at the animals and some time to fill out packets that we brought that had questions about the animals.

The whole fourth grade went to the IMAX theater to watch a 3D movie about the climate change at the North Pole. We had to bring our packets, to the movie, to answer some questions.

The reason why the fourth grade goes to the N.E.A. is because one of our science units is oceanography taught by Mr. Keohane. The N.E.A. is a good opportunity to learn more and to see how the animals act like in the wild. Some of the animals we saw penguins, seals and sea lions, octopus, different types of fish, turtles, jellyfish, sea dragons, and eels.  In the Tide Pool touch tank, the water was really cold! We touched sea urchins, sea stars, hermit and horseshoe crabs. The water was much warmer in the Shark and Sting Ray touch tank, thank goodness.

Overall most everyone had a good time at the N.E. Aquarium and were disappointed when we had to leave and return to school.  Some of the students were assigned homework that night.  They were to reflect upon our trip and tell what thought was really interesting and one thing that they learned.  We hope this will be an annual fourth grade field trip, so that other students can have this same experience.

Reported by: Amy, Martin, and Sophia