Ferry Beach Ecology Unit September 2010

Wow! This is an amazing unit for students and teachers alike. During the month of September all of the Mast Landing fourth graders are learning about the ABC's of ecology. From weather and climate to food webs and cycles in nature, students are being introduced to the many biotic and abiotic factors that are involved in our environment.

In-class lessons and outdoor explorations at school are combined with a special one-day program by Ferry Beach Ecology School staff at Mast Landing. The FBES staff used funny skits and songs to engage students in understanding various science concepts. They also took the children out into our school woods to investigate the forest ecosystem.

Then we all headed to Ferry Beach Ecology School in Saco for three days/two nights of being immersed in ecology lessons. We all stayed in Rowland Hall, a large dormitory. Many parent chaperones and 4 teachers and about 90 students! The children got settled into their rooms, then did a practice fire drill. Here is the dorm and one of the FBES staff getting the children ready for their first activity.

All of the lessons complemented the concepts and topics that were taught in school. Each morning we went for a walk on the beach followed by a weather data collection. Here the FBES naturalist is in crazy costume as we learn about weather conditions and record them.

One of the hallmarks of the FBES experience is staff performing skits to introduce students to important ecology concepts and vocabulary. They really ham it up with costumes and humor and songs.

At every breakfast meal in the cafeteria, the weather squad then reports in dramatic fashion what the weather will be for the day to the entire population of FBES. Here MLS students are with the naturalists giving the day's report.

Students are assigned to 8 different study groups. These are the groups that they are with the three days. Each group has at least one MLS adult and one FBES naturalist.

Here are some groups at the Biddeford tide pools exploring intertidal organisms.


During the evening sessions, the children had one indoor and one outdoor activity. The first night they learned all about the organisms and the ecosystem of the tide pools in preparation for the next day's explorations. This was done with a skit followed by rotating group activities.

The second night they went on a "Nature at Night" walk to learn about what is needed for nocturnal animals to get by. They participated in activities using their senses minus sight. Some groups even got to hear a great horned owl hooting and an answering female! Each night students also wrote in their MLS journal or in the booklet given by FBES.

The last day was spent packing up and then going on an Abiotic Adventure. The children learned about the various aboitic factors of nature and how they dramatically affect the living, biotic world.




It was an awesome, educational, and unforgettable experience for everyone involved. Ferry Beach Ecology School is a wonderful place. If you want to learn more about Ferry Beach just go to
www.fbes.org or ask a 4th grader!