Arthur L. Johnson’s Marine Biology class recently visited Sandy Hook for the day. The students spent the day gathering data from the salt marsh, beach, and dunes. The students collected various fish, clams, snails and mussels from the salt marsh using dip nets, sieves and seine nets. Many of the organisms collected are now residing in the saltwater tanks in their classroom. The students conducted current, transect and water quality studies on the ocean side beach. A walk through the dunes provided the students a chance to observe different types of vegetation, a deer, and a few harmless garter snakes.
The class spent the weeks leading up to the field trip learning about the barrier island and salt marsh ecosystems.
“The 80 minutes every other day in the classroom are good, but the 5 hours in the water and on the beach at Sandy Hook make the largest impact. The students have an experience to remember for years to come,” said Mr. Van Bergen, ALJ marine biology teacher. Marine Biology is a half year elective offered at ALJ in which both the fall and spring classes visit Sandy Hook.
(above) Students in the ALJ Marine Biology elective class collecting samples at Sandy Hook, which they brought back to the classroom.
Photo by Clark Public Schools
