Gather around. Look! See!

Gather around. Look! See!
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

The rule and slogan that the children were taught by the beach naturalist was "Bring the teacher to the creature, NOT the creature to the teacher!" So all morning we were hearing, "Come here, come here, look at this!" They were so excited and happy and rarely did anyone look up long enough for a picture; they were so fascinated by the life they found at low tide.

Wow! You kids are GREAT!

DSCN0063
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

Nicole, the naturalist from Seattle's
aquarium was so surprised when one of my students ran up to her yelling "Come see the Mossy Chiton!" Chitons are plentiful but to have a kindergartener identify it AND be able to tell her he ate by using his radula, well that is impressive. Ok now, how many of my readers out there can tell me what a radula is?

Lovely Day for A Low Tide Field Trip

Lovely Day for A Low Tide Field Trip
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

Last Monday, June 6 we took the kindergarteners to Emma Schmitz Beach park for a low tide field trip. The weather man's forecast of rain never materialized and we had a wonderful time exploring tide pools and eating our lunch on beach logs.
We saw lots of anemones, barnacles, chitons, whelks, mussels, bamboo worms, sculpins, moon snail collars and more but we only saw one sea star this time. All the more reason to go back on my own.

Moon Snail Shell

Moon Snail Shell
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

Ben squints into the sun as he shows off his find; an empty moon snail shell. He put it down gently right where he found it after I took the photo. All the kids were so good at honoring the ecology of the beach, although it wasn't easy.

Touching a Sea Worm

Touching a Sea Worm
Originally uploaded by mtnester.

The girls sorely wanted to pick up the Sea Worm but did as the beach naturalist requested and just petted it gently with a wet finger.