A whale of a time!
Accompsett Elementary School students dove into an unforgettable ocean adventure Friday, when a giant inflatable whale transformed the school into an interactive marine science learning center. Courtesy of the Cold Spring Harbor Whaling Museum, students were able to explore marine biology and environmental conservation through a series of hands-on stations and activities.
One of the highlights of the experience was the opportunity for students to step inside the enormous inflatable whale to study both external and internal whale anatomy. While inside the whale, students compared human anatomy to whale anatomy and examined fascinating artifacts such as a real whale tooth and special “whale goggles,” helping them better understand how these incredible marine mammals survive in the ocean.
Beyond the whale itself, students rotated through a variety of engaging environmental education stations, many of which were hosted by High School West STEM students!
"Bringing hands-on marine science to life on this scale is a massive undertaking, and I want to personally commend Ms. Williams for her outstanding leadership in making today happen," said SCSD Director of Science, Dr. Stephanie O'Brien. "From dreaming up this project to coordinating with the Long Island Sound Blue Schools network and our community partners at CCE, AMSEAS, NY SeaGrant, and the CSH Whaling Museum, this collaboration has created an unforgettable educational experience for our Accompsett Elementary students."
During the “Beach Heroes” activity, students learned about the dangers shorebirds face from litter, vehicle traffic, and human activity on beaches. At the “Trash or Treasure Sort” station, students participated in a relay-style game where they sorted items into trash, recycling, or reuse categories, reinforcing lessons about consumerism and the impact of single-use plastics.
Throughout the day, educational games and puzzles kept students engaged between stations, including vocabulary challenges, word searches, guessing games, and environmental-themed mazes.