Students learn a lot from day on the beach

Over 70 students from Saipan International School seized the opportunity to study and learn first hand about their surrounding environment, taking part in a science field study yesterday at the Pau Pau Beach area.

The activity, coordinated by science teacher Maria Lamkin, featured students conducting various surveys, as well as measurements on corals, sea cucumbers, and land depth, among others. Participating students were from between grades six to 10.

“We took students to the beach so they can study the organisms that are on the shore, in the water, and the reef, and corals on the way to the reef,” Lamkin said during an interview.

She said equipment necessary for the activity were purchased through grants from the Coastal Resources Management Office, Patty Foundation, and Mobil.

Lamkin said CRM awarded the school about $10,000 last year, while Mobil contributed $1,000. The Patty Foundation contributed $3,000 this year.

“This is the third year that we’ve done this,” she said. A combination of all grants enabled me to buy all the snorkeling, scuba, and survey equipment.”

Lankin also explained the importance of having students understand their surrounding environment, the changes that occur, and the effects they may have.

“They [students] live here and they need to know what’s in their backyard,” she said. “They need to know how to protect it and what we need to do to protect it and that’s why we’re here.”

Lamkin said the students were divided into nine groups, each with an assignment.

One of the groups was assigned to do a sea cucumber survey, which required them to use two 200-foot tape measures placed either perpendicular or parallel to the shore. The students would then count the number of sea cucumbers found within the length of the tape measure, measure them, determine the different types—pictures of various types were distributed to each, enabling them to determine the types of sea cucumbers found.

Another group was tasked with measuring the depth of the beach, while another figuring the slope of the land from the beach to the road.

Another group was tasked with finding and identifying corals; another, doing chemical tests; another, taking pictures for the school; and others, doing land survey, which featured students using hula hoops, throwing them on land and counting and drawing the various organisms found within the hoop. The same was done in the water also.

“The kids love it,” Lamkin said. “Right now, they’re doing okay and enjoying before we head back to school.”

The field study began at about 8am and concluded at 1pm. Students then returned to the school campus for class.

Lamkin said all information gathered would be combined for comparison. Data from future field trips will also be kept and compared to the findings of yesterday’s trip. Students were also required to keep journals, writing about their experience as well as findings.