With summer in full swing, how often do you think about dunes? I can tell you right now you probably aren’t thanking them enough! These seemingly simple hills of sand play a crucial role in protecting summer’s most famous ecosystem: beaches! Here’s why you should stay off the dunes, and give them a bit of …
Getting girls interested in fish, sediment, plants, and all things slimy and dirty! One thing I adore about USF’s Oceanography camp for girls is that I get the opportunity to show a group of amazing young women some of the tasks scientists use in the field as research tactics. This year I co-lead my favorite …
While every day is World Ocean Day when you’re neck deep in marine science education on a daily basis, it’s still an exciting day to get others to celebrate, appreciate, and protect their local waterways and ocean regions!
Marine science isn’t just about data charts and dissections—it’s also about expression, innovation, and using what makes you you to make a difference. That’s exactly what happens every year at the end of my marine science class, my students were challenged to bring their individual talents into the world of ocean advocacy. Through an extra …
At Sharky Shenanigans, we believe Earth Day isn’t just a one-day party — it’s a year-long adventure! In a high school marine science classroom, every day can be Earth Day when we mix mindfulness, action, and a little salty sea spirit. Here’s how we’re making waves for the planet — with a special shoutout to …
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Let’s be honest: even adult scientists groan a little when they see a long, data-heavy research paper. So how do we get high school students not just to read scientific literature, but actually enjoy it—and better yet, write it?
There’s something magical about watching your students explore the outdoors, get their hands dirty in the muck, and finally understand how an estuary works because they’re standing in one. But if you’ve ever tried to book a field trip and found your dream experience booked up—or just not quite right for your curriculum—you’ve probably thought: “What if I just …
This year’s Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! encouraged educators to build literacy across subjects, and in our high school marine science classroom, we dove headfirst into one of the most iconic ocean-inspired novels of all time: Jaws by Peter Benchley. But instead of focusing on fear, we used this story as a launchpad for science, media literacy, and creative expression. …
Read more “Literature in Marine Science: Celebrating Literacy Week in the Marine Science Classroom”
Raising funds for anything can be a challenge but raising funds for a group of less than 30 people or a class that has no school district funding can be daunting. Having funds is vital for supporting the hands-on experiences that get students involved and excited about the marine world. Being able to be creative …
The world continues to spin and change no matter what we do, so why do we as educators keep the same curriculum and strategies throughout the year? Why don’t we more regularly focus on the now, on the current (pun intended) events that make students interested and engaged in the material? My goal as an …