Students explore organisms, recycling at Washed Ashore Exhibit
Marine Biology students recently took a field trip to Norfolk Botanical Garden’s Washed Ashore exhibit, which features 11 larger-than-life sculptures made from plastics pulled from our oceans.
Students worked in pairs to present an organism to the class using the sculptures from the exhibit. They presented adaptations, habitat, behavior, ecology and other aspects of marine biology for the organism represented by the sculpture.
Students worked in pairs to present an organism to the class using the sculptures from the exhibit. They presented adaptations, habitat, behavior, ecology and other aspects of marine biology for the organism represented by the sculpture.
Ms. Porterfield, biology teacher, also provided context from her experience with marine pollution and plastics in the sea.
Back in the classroom, students are working on researching their own organisms. Using what they learn about its structure, adaptations and other characteristics, they will construct an artifact—either a 3D sculpture using debris collected from beach cleanups or a 2D collage from recycled plastic bottle caps.
If you would like to assist, Marine Biology students are accepting recycled (please clean them before donating) bottle caps from sodas bottles, water bottles, sports drinks and more to support their project and help raise awareness for recycling.
For more information about the class or its projects, please contact Dr. Frank Thompson at fthompson@norfolkcollegiate.org.
