Birds of the Chesapeake Bay
Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall for grades K-4
Students investigate what makes birds different from other animals, and why they are so special. Students learn how to identify common birds of the Chesapeake Bay by using their sight, hearing, and deductive reasoning skills. Learners will use tools like binoculars to aid in their discoveries. Students will leave this course competent and curious birders.
Chesapeake Bay Stewardship
Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall for grades 2-4
Students investigate the impact of trash, sediment, and chemicals from the watersheds to the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Students will explore the shoreline to identify areas of erosion and erosion prevention. Students develop an understanding of why plants and animals are important to the health of the Bay. Students leave this lesson with a better understanding of how and why to become stewards of the Bay.
Pollination
Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall for grades K-4
Students learn the conditions needed for plants to grow, and why plants are dependent upon pollinators to reproduce. Learners visit several types of pollinator habitats and look for diversity and abundance of pollinators. Students also learn how seeds are dispersed by insects, animals, natural/human forces.
Submerged Aquatic Vegetation (SAV)
Offered: Spring, Summer, Fall for grades 3-6
Students learn, using a dichotomous key, how to identify SAV species. Students also learn the benefits of healthy SAV beds, the diversity of species found at the head of the Chesapeake Bay, and how aquatic plants differ from land plants.