Learning about ocean life at BUEI
Education goes hand-in-hand with the exhibits at the Bermuda Underwater Exploration Institute.
BUEI education officer Crystal Schultz explained that during the school year many school classes visit the Institute where she and her assistant Carol Jackson aim to enlighten young minds.
They cover a wide range of topics and the list includes Whale Activity, Sharks, Antarctica versus Arctic, Volcanoes and Bermuda’s Geological Past, Sand and Ooze Identification and Analysis from Bermuda and around the world, Fish Scale Lab, Beach Drift/Flotsam Activity, Fossil Ballast Lab, Which Artefact Doesn’t Belong?, Shell Lab, Divide the Booty, Deep-Sea Creatures and Bioluminescence, Shipwrecks and Life in 17th Century Bermuda, Pirates, Prehistoric Sea Creatures, Marine Pollution/Biodegradation, Hurricanes, Pressure and Caves.
They use one class for a lab, while the other is used for presentations.
“We like to do a lot of video with PowerPoint, because with kids you have to get them right in there and then they get excited and are like ‘oh, wow,” explained Ms Schultz.
“So tomorrow we have a group coming in and we will do weather, so we will have lightning and thundering sounds and the lights will be out. Welcome to extreme weather.
“When we do Deep Water (class) we had pictures of strange creatures.”
After the presentations they take the kids over to the lab for hands on experience and they always have an opportunity to win a prize.
“We feel if you can’t have fun, then it is not worth it! The aim is to enhance the curricula of the schools.”
ACTIVITIES OFFERED INCLUDE: Presentation, hands-on activity, demonstration, video(s), and a resource packet which includes a post activity for use in the classroom. Activities can be modified to age level and accommodate curricula needs.
Pick your own marine related topic and BUEI will try to develop a curricula-supporting activity for your class visit. These activities require a minimum of a 1-2 week notice and may include a pre/post activity for the classroom teacher to use for preparation/follow-up. $2 per person including chaperones.
Some examples include:
Whale Activity: Climb inside a large inflated whale and learn about its anatomy. From learning and mimicking whale behaviour, identifying and drawing music scores to their sounds, to identifying humpbacks by their tails, students can learn through participation. Observe whale feeding techniques, become immersed in Bermuda’s past whaling days and see the latest in whale migration data collecting techniques as used by Teddy Tucker and BUEI International advisors>
Sharks: From shark anatomy and physiology, reproduction, modern day and prehistoric sharks to shark attacks (causes and prevention), and from importance of sharks to their needed conservation, students learn all about JAWS! Preserved specimens, dissected sharks, fossil teeth, and egg cases are utilised in this exploration.
Antarctica vs. Arcti$> Learn about the similarities and differences between these two unique environments through their wildlife, ambient climate, and the effects of global warming and sea level change. Icebergs, different types of ice, and the Jamaica sized Ice Island B-15 are highlighted. Find out how the “warnings from the ice” may affect Bermuda.
Volcanoes and Bermuda’s Geological Pa<$> Learn about different types of volcanoes, lava and their disastrous and positive effects on earth. View how Bermuda was formed on the seamount interactive and see just how large Bermuda once was. Observe how high the sea once covered Bermuda and find out where our island will be in 30 million years. Smell and touch samples of ancient Bermuda cedar, dating over 7000 years old, collected by Teddy Tucker from various submerged forests around Bermuda. Be briefed on the latest discoveries as Mr. Tucker leads BUEI’s Sea Level Study in conjunction with Steve Blasco of the Geological Survey of Canada. Discover what inhabited the seas when Bermuda exploded through the ocean’s surface. Several volcano demonstrations are available and students can see and handle local volcanic specimens.
Sand and Ooze Identification and Analysis (Bermuda and Around the World): Shows how sand varies in consistency, colour, composition and size within a beach, around an island as well as around the world. Ooze from 7,000 feet is also available for analysis, consisting of pteropods, forams, spicules, .
Fish Scale Lab: Reveals a past method of fish age determination as well as scale type identification and adaptation. A lesson on the 3 major categories of fish may be included along with specimens for viewing.
Beach Drift/Flotsam Activity: Allows students to identify various specimens found washed up on Bermuda’s beaches or in the mangroves. Items are then analysed as to whether they are man-made, natural, local, or from elsewhere. This activity can be utilised also as a good study in pollution and the effects of currents on Bera.
Fossil Ballast Lab: Engages students in identification of various fossils (whales, sharks, molluscs, horses, alligators, stingrays, conglomerates) found in the ballast of a wreck discovered by Teddy Tucker. Through mathematical extrapolation of the fossil teeth, students can determine the size of the sharks that existed millions of years ago. These fossils are also compared to fossils found in Bermuda.
Which Artefact Doesn’t Bng?<$> Through identification and interpretation, students analyse the contents of their archaeological sample bag and determine the time period to which all but one artefact belong. Past uses of the items are also emphasised.
Shell Lab- Students are introduced to shells in the Lightbourn Shell Room and then handle both rare, deep water and common shell specimens as they are classified and identified. Interesting information as to peculiarities, uniqueness, defence systems, biology, uses by man through the ages, etc. is highlted.
Divide the Booty: From musket balls, earrings, cufflinks to jewelled crosses, artefacts from the 1741 crosses, artefacts from the 1741
Shipwrecks and Life in 17th Century Bermuda: What was Bermuda like when the Sea Venture wrecked? What hardships existed in those times for early settlers and ship travellers? Learn about some interesting wrecks and their stages of deterioration under water as well as archaeological excavation. See various artets and learn what clues they tell.
Pirates:<$> Learn sea history by studying Sea Thieves- Privateers, Corsairs and Buccaneers as well as the Golden Age of Piracy. Meet individuals like Sir Frances Drake, Blackbeard, Captain Kidd, Anne Bonny and Mary Read on video. See pirate tools of the trade, artefacts, weapons and ammunition. Learn how a cannon was loaded and fired. Was the life of a pirate as glamorous as Hollywood portrays? Were gold doubloons and pieces of eight the only treasure? What were living conditions really like on ships at that time (food, health, medicine)? Who was the pirate that had dealings with Bermuda and what did his Jolly Roger l like?Prehistoric Sea Creatures:<$> What were the real “Sea Monsters” of the past like? Students are given an overview of the major time periods and extinction’s beginning with the Cambrian Period and are introduced to some of the dominant unusual life forms of each time and some of the major events that occurred including the birth of Bermuda. Through video, fossil displays, and a fossil lab activity, students are introduced to “ancient seas” and an ocean of huge marine reptiles and prehistoric sharkB>
Marine Pollution/Biodegradation:<$> Utilising hands-on activities, demonstrations, video, and interactive computer programmes, students identify the sources, causes, problems, and types of marine pollution. What pollutants are found in Bermuda and from where do they come? How do these forms of pollutants affect our daily lives? Possible solutions and preventions are discussed as to how to keep our marine waters pollutant free.
Hurricanes: What conditions are needed for hurricanes to form and downgrade and what are they called in other parts of the world? What are they made up of, what are their categories, what were the worst recorded hurricanes in history and what is the real cause of most deaths and destruction? Students learn all about the “big wind”, practice tracking a very unique hurricane, see a movie that really shows the effects of wind and storm surges as well as emphasises some of the “do’s and don’ts” when a storm approaches. Students are given an opportunity to develop their own hurricane checklist and do a computer activity that involves latitude, longitude, speend direction in avoiding a hurricane.
Pressure: Learn about all types, causes and effects of pressure. Starting in space with no pressure and ending up in the deepest area of the ocean where it’s extreme, pressure is presented in terms of astronauts, mountain climbers, test pilots, Bermudians at sea level, snorkellers, SCUBA dive and deep sea submersibles.
Caves:<$> What are caves? What types are there and what causes the large variety of cave formations (speleothems)? Learn about Bermuda’s beautiful caves and why they are considered a biodiversity hotspot as well as why and how they need to be preserved.
BUEI COMPUTER ROOM: Utilising an array of selected interactive websites and software, students can actively engage in math and science activities to learn about a variety of diverse topics. Selected software and websites allow students to work individually or in teams to acquire skills in problem solving, utilising the scientific method, read maps and practice navigation as well as collect and review information and vocabulary in the areas of marine pollution, marine biology, oceanography, mne geology, geography, and sea history.
LINK WETLAB: The lab contains a 10’ x 10’ x 6’ deep salt water holding tank for marine life to be studied. Seawater filters in through the limestone from the harbour. The lab showcases various hands-on activities developed for the BUEI Education Programme as well as a plethora of specimens and artefacts.
Education and BUEI go together
