Numbers listed in parentheses indicate ages for each class; letters indicate the session(s).
SEASHORE LIFE (7-8) A, B
Students will explore local beaches and salt marshes to observe and learn about marine life and coastal processes. Activities will include the study of seashore communities, learning to identify common invertebrate phyla, collecting organisms in intertidal environments, setting up classroom aquaria, experiments, and art projects.
PATTERNS IN NATURE – Polka Dots, Spirals, Stripes, and more! (7-8) B
Where can we find patterns in nature? Everywhere! We’ll look at symmetry, spirals, branching, waves, tessellations, polka dots and stripes. We’ll explore nature to find patterns in fields, woods, ponds, backyards, and at the beach. We’ll collect objects from nature and have fun with art projects that will help us understand patterns and answer questions like; Why are beehives full of hexagons? How does it help a Killifish to have stripes? Why are some baby birds covered in spots?
WOODS, PONDS, AND FIELDS (8-9) A, B
Students will learn about the natural history of animals and plants that live in terrestrial and freshwater environments. Through explorations in the field, creative projects, collections, and by setting up terraria and aquaria in the classroom, the kids will be introduced to concepts of entomology, botany, ornithology, herpetology, limnology, and ecology.
ANIMAL BEHAVIOR (8-9) A, B
Animals are born with instincts. They already know how to do certain things like build nests, find food and avoid predators. Animals also can learn to do new things. Herring Gulls learn to drop clams to crack them open by watching other gulls do it. Mice can learn their way through a maze. In this class, we will observe animals to learn about what they do and why they do it, and we will set up some experiments to demonstrate animals’ behaviors.
HABITS and HABITATS (8-9) B
A habitat is a natural ecosystem where an animal or plant lives and where it has what it needs to survive. In this course we will explore a variety of environments and learn about species adaptations to live there. What are the characteristics of different habitats? How does an animal’s habitat determine its behaviors and how it survives? We’ll make observations in fields, woods, backyards, freshwater ponds and marine environments and compare the animals and plants that live in each. We will carefully collect organisms to set up aquaria and terraria in the classroom so we can learn about them up close.
MARINE ECOLOGY (9-10) A
In marine ecology we will study how marine organisms interact with each other and their environment. By exploring sandy beaches, rocky intertidal areas, salt marshes, and communities of plants and animals growing on dock pilings, we can learn how different organisms are adapted to living in particular environments. We will set up aquaria to represent different habitats and carefully collect some organisms to watch in the classroom.
MARINE BIOLOGY (9-10) A, B
This is a diverse field-oriented course in which students will visit rocky shores, sandy beaches, and marsh ecosystems to explore and to observe the organisms that live there. The kids will collect animals and plants to learn to identify them and learn about how they live. In the classroom, students will keep aquariums for a better look at animals they find. Microscopes and dissections will be used for close study.
ART, SCIENCE, AND NATURE (10-11) A
This course blends science, nature, and the visual arts. Students will use various materials to create forms of art while learning about ecological relationships between organisms and local natural environments. Students will explore different habitats along the seashore, in the woods, in freshwater wetlands, and in the suburban backyards of Woods Hole. Through sketches, sculptures, and other projects, students will showcase the connections among animals, plants, and their environments as well as our interactions with them.
CETACEANS (whales), PINNIPEDS (seals) and SEA TURTLES (10-11) B
Students will learn to identify the marine mammal and sea turtle species most common to our waters. Whales, dolphins, porpoises, seals and sea turtles can be found all around Cape Cod. Some can be easily seen from shore, even in Woods Hole. We’ll look at their adaptations for life in the ocean. We’ll learn about the many threats these animals face from ocean debris – like fishing line, nets, rope and plastic bags – and about the great dangers posed by ship strikes and boat propeller injuries. Local biologists who work in the field of marine animal rescue and rehabilitation will visit us in the classroom and we will have the chance to visit animals in rehab facilities.
GULF STREAM ORPHANS (10-11) B
Gulf Stream Orphans are what we call the tropical fish that are swept north beyond their native range by the Gulf Stream in the summer. In this class we will learn about the relationship between the Gulf Stream, climate, water temperatures and the distribution of marine species. We’ll do a lot of collecting at local docks, beaches and saltmarshes to look for GSOs as well as other non-native animals and plants that arrived here from around the world. We’ll learn about how they got here and what effects they have on local environments and on native species. We’ll keep a record of the GSOs we find and submit our data to the GSO Project. www.gsoproject.org
HERPETOLOGY (10-11) B
Herpetology is the study of reptiles and amphibians. Both are cold-blooded animals with backbones (vertebrate). Reptiles have scales and they hatch from eggs that are laid on land or are carried in the mother’s body. Amphibians have smooth skin and their tadpoles hatch in freshwater. In this class we’ll learn to identify local species that can be easily found and seen, like frogs, toads, salamanders, snakes and turtles. We will learn about the habitats in which they are found and each animal’s development, anatomy, form, function, evolution, adaptations, and feeding strategies.
INVERTEBRATE ZOOLOGY (10-11) A
Invertebrates are animals without backbones. They make up 94% of the world’s animal species. They include diverse organisms such as sponges, ctenophores, worms, echinoderms, molluscs, and arthropods. The largest invertebrates are giant squids that can grow to 40 feet and weigh 1,000 pounds. The smallest invertebrates are so tiny that we will need to use microscopes to see them. This hands-on class will survey the diversity of invertebrate phyla and explore the evolutionary relationships between these groups. Field trips to beaches, ponds, fields, woods and backyards will give the class the chance to collect animals to bring back to the classroom where aquaria and terraria will be set up for close study and observations of anatomy, reproduction, feeding, and behavior.
SEAWEEDS (10-11) A
Did you know that we most likely consume some form of seaweed everyday without even knowing it? Over the course of three weeks, students will immerse themselves in hands-on activities that cover such topics as: algae form and function, growth and light, photosynthesis and respiration, eutrophication and pollution, ocean acidification, and aquaculture. Students will learn how to identify local species using identification guides, examine ecological interactions between seaweeds and their surroundings, press seaweeds, eat seaweeds, and design a kelp farm in a fish tank.
BOTANY (11-12) B
Fun plant facts: Bamboo is the fastest growing plant in the world and it is a kind of grass. Some vegetables are actually fruits. Plants sense gravity and know what time it is. Plants provide the foundation for all life on earth. Students in this class will collect and identify plant species and learn about their importance in ecosystems. Through experiments, microscopy, dissection, and field work, students will develop a hands-on appreciation for botanical concepts and the dynamic role that plants play in the world around us.
METEOROLOGY (11-12) B
Weather is easy to study because it’s around us every day and is always changing. What is weather, what causes it, and how can we predict it? Solar energy input, temperature differences, and pressure variations in the atmosphere drive the weather. Students will learn about the components of weather, and they will use and construct instruments that will demonstrate concepts and collect data of temperature, atmospheric pressure, wind speed and direction, humidity, precipitation, and cloud cover. Students will become adept at identifying cloud types and recording data and looking for patterns in changing weather conditions …and maybe even predict what tomorrow’s weather will be without consulting the internet!
FIELD GEOLOGY (11-12) B
Did you know that Cape Cod and the Islands were formed by a huge ice sheet over ten thousand years ago? Students will be introduced to the geological history of Cape Cod through field work, experiments, and classroom modeling. The class will visit and observe landforms that the glaciers left behind when they retreated. Field trips will take us to see cliffs, outwash plains, moraines, knob and kettle terrain, and kettle holes and learn about the processes that formed them. Please be aware that there may be additional field trips or slightly longer trips to visit landforms that are beyond what we can see right in Woods Hole.
ENTOMOLOGY (11-12) B
Students will learn about the major groups of insects: their habits, growth and development, and the important roles they play in terrestrial and aquatic ecosystems. Many of our activities will involve collecting insects in fields, woods, ponds, and backyards, and rearing them in the classroom. We will pay special attention to important relationships between insects and plants.
ORNITHOLOGY (11-12) A
Fascinating BIRD facts: Birds are dinosaurs. Birds’ bones are hollow. Blue Jay feathers aren’t really blue. This course is designed to give students a basic understanding of bird biology as well as the ability to identify local birds by field marks, voice, and song. Students will learn life histories, comparative morphology and coloration, and behavior. Activities will include field exploration and observation of nest sites, using paper airplanes to demonstrate how wing shapes affect bird flight, and making quill pens.
EMBRYOLOGY (12-13) A
During development, a single cell will divide and produce many different cell types with different shapes and jobs. How does this happen? How long does it take? This course will introduce and explore the changes and stages of embryonic development in organisms through collection and microscopic research. We’ll look at embryonic development in vertebrates and invertebrates.
NAUTICAL SCIENCE (12-13) B
Explore boat design and build a seaworthy model boat, learn to navigate by chart and compass, experiment with the principles of buoyancy and displacement, and delve into nautical terminology and practical seamanship. Classes will take trips to the working waterfront and by boat through Woods Hole Passage.
INTRODUCTION TO FILM PHOTOGRAPHY (12-13) A, B
Students will learn the science behind photography, and how to use a 35-mm SLR film camera. The class will learn to develop film and use enlargers in the darkroom to enlarge and print photographic images. They’ll learn about the chemical reactions that take place when film and photo paper are exposed to light, and about how darkroom chemicals like developer, stop bath and fixer work. Students will explore how to artistically capture nature through a lens. CSS will provide each student with an SLR film camera to use for the class. Space is limited to 10 students. Materials Fee: $40
ICHTHYOLOGY (12-13) A, B
Students will learn to fish using different baits and lures, as well as by setting traps and using seines. They’ll study the characteristics of fish species that are found in local North Atlantic and freshwater habitats, and learn about fish anatomy and adaptations they have developed for life and survival in aquatic environments.
OCEANOGRAPHY (12-13) A
Students will learn about the physical and chemical properties of seawater and take measurements of salinity, temperature, and pH. We’ll learn about ocean zonation, beach profiles, and wave formation and about how ocean currents are affected by the earth’s rotation. We’ll collect data on tidal currents and tides and learn how they are caused by the interaction of Earth, sun and moon. Students will investigate how changes in ocean chemistry that are due to natural processes (such as biological activity or geology) or are caused by human activities (such as pollution) may impact both marine and terrestrial life.
ROBOTICS/ROVs (13-15) A, B
Students will focus on the technical, economic, and environmental aspects of real-world marine engineering and electronics. Through project design and data analysis, students will explore principles such as buoyancy, propulsion, and energy. There will be frequent field trips to Woods Hole labs to observe and learn about real-world ROVs (remotely operated vehicles). Students will build and test functional underwater ROVs. Materials Fee: $40
EARTH SCIENCE (13-16) A
The planet Earth is 4.6 billion years old. Earth science is geology, meteorology, climatology, oceanography, and environmental science. Also called geoscience, earth science studies the processes that form and shape Earth’s surface, and how water and ecosystems are interconnected. We’ll learn about earthquakes and volcanoes and go out into the field to learn first-hand about minerals, soils, oceans, freshwater, fossils, atmosphere, weather, and hydrology.
BIOLOGICAL ILLUSTRATION (14-16) A
Illustration can be a useful and beautiful method of recording information. In this class we will become familiar with basic techniques of biological illustration, while examining the structure, anatomy and function of local organisms. This course will also compare historically important methods of illustration with modern techniques such as photomicrographs and data-based animations.
ADVANCED MARINE BIOLOGY (14-16) A, B
Through hands-on exposure, students will delve into the biology and ecology of marine vertebrates and invertebrates, their evolution and classification, anatomy and physiology, behaviors, and habitats. This course will include snorkeling field trips to explore different marine ecosystems around Woods Hole. Students must provide their own mask, snorkel and fins. A swim test will be administered requiring students to swim 50 ft and tread water for 2 minutes. Space is limited to 14 students.