On May 20 the Old Hammondtown School sixth graders boarded the Cuttyhunk Ferry to spend a beautiful day exploring the Island of Cuttyhunk. Students experienced hands on learning by exploring the natural beauty of marshes, as well as both the calm and the island’s wild wave battered shores.
Students put on waders to explore eelgrass meadows up close and learned the importance the water flora has on our marine environment and the aquatic food web. The Mass Audubon lead explorations of some of the shorebirds that migrate to the island to nest and raise their young. A local oyster farmer discussed the business of oyster farming and how important the ecological environment that is needed for oyster growth and the contributions shellfish have on the water quality. A fun favorite among the students was trying their hands at crabbing along the docks.
This field trip was organized by Ben Squire, the OHS and Center School science teacher and Michelle Carvalho a local resident of Cuttyhunk and the STEAM Academy Director.