Some Maplewood third graders got a chance to see what’s ahead for them about six years from now when they visited Walt Whitman High School recently for a close look at some very advanced science classes. Five years ago, third grade teacher Diane Cristine wanted a way to get her students really excited about science and she knew just where to go - the 400 wing of Walt Whitman High School where Mr. Fred Feraco and Mr. John Karavias are conducting some innovative science research with their students.
“Every day I teach my students about the scientific method and how experiments are done, and then we do our units of study,” explained Ms. Cristine. “But at this level there’s not a lot of hands-on experience. And I want them to see how vast the field is.”
And there was a lot for the third graders to see. The high school students were ready at different stations to show their younger counterparts all the research they’re working on. There were drones, small robots, power tools, aquariums, terrariums and microscopes. Mr. Feraco was glad to help Ms. Cristine set up the February 16th visit because he agrees with the need for hands-on learning. “Students need to experience real science with their hands,” said Mr. Feraco. “They need to see how things work. They need to learn how to use different technologies and see and feel and use their senses in the classroom.”
The popular stops were the touch tanks set up by Island Fish and Scale Aquarium Designers and Installers, and Walt Whitman’s own 600 gallon state-of-the-art reef tank that the high school students use for a number of different independent research opportunities. The touch tanks allowed students to reach right in the water and learn how coral feels, and explore the texture of small sea creatures like starfish. And much to the delight of Ms. Cristine and Mr. Feraco, the Maplewood students asked a lot of questions. “The high school students are actually more excited than the elementary school students because they [the high school students] are so involved in their research that they only get to work with me and the students around them. So to get an excited third grader to ask them lots of questions, they're usually so happy to teach them,” said Mr. Feraco.
Maplewood student Otis Jerkens was eager to learn. “I love science. I once saw a starfish on the beach,” said Otis. “And I picked it up because I saw it moving super slowly and I figured out that they had mouths underneath them.” So he was thrilled to look underneath the starfish he placed under the microscope.
When they get back to Maplewood, Ms. Cristine has her students write about their experience visiting the science students at Whitman. Their usually enthusiastic responses have convinced her to continue the annual outing, exposing her students not only to what’s coming up for them in high school but maybe even blooming some early scientists.
Thank you to Island Fish and Scale (follow them on Instagram at @islandfishandscale) for taking the time to visit our schools, setting up their aquarium displays and teaching our young students about the wonders of the marine sciences.