Making waves in Hoover

It might be the dead of winter, but students at Hoover High School and South Shades Crest Elementary have come together for “Ocean Fun Day” – a collaborative visit between second-graders and high-schoolers designed to take marine science learning to the next level.

Ocean Fun Day brought South Shades Crest Elementary students to Sara Taylor’s Marine Science Lab at Hoover High School for a day of oceanic exploration. Largely led by Taylor’s students, the second-graders rotated among “stations” showcasing the ocean’s importance; beach safety (stingrays, jellyfish, etc.); sand experiments; and marine biology. The tactile component came into play, too; students could get up close – even touch – marine life including seashells, sea stars, sea urchins and hermit crabs.

“This was truly incredible and the outreach to Mrs. Galey Thomas’ class was a tremendous expansion of the concept,” Taylor said. “My students glowed as they taught the second-graders what they had learned.”

Taylor’s students began prepping for their instruction of elementary students following a successful tide pool exploration lab in November. In each station, high school students explored “something neat to discover” said Taylor. This included a live animal, models, animals preserved in plastic or solution, an informational display and/or video clip.

The marine science lab at Hoover High School received a grant from the Hoover City Schools Foundation during the 2008-2009 school year. Taylor wrote the grant, which she titled “Making Waves in Hoover.”

“Thanks to the grant, I was able to get this started and enjoy continuing and adding to it each year,” Taylor said.

-Submitted by Jason Gaston, Hoover City Schools