05-20-2011, 11:10 AM
Annapolis, Md. - The Maryland Department of Natural Resources (DNR) will host Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom field days at Sandy Point State Park's east beach to give students hands-on activities that teach about a current aquatic natural resource management issue.
The field days mark the culmination of months of study for students involved in the Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom program, a partnership program with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which teaches Maryland students about horseshoe crabs and the management of this important species.
"This is a great opportunity for the students to celebrate what they have learned, release horseshoe crabs they have raised, and participate in a host of hands-on activities," said Stacy Epperson, DNR Education Specialist.
At each event, students who were involved in the raising of the crabs will visit several stations where they will learn about the horseshoe crab's life history, the ecological relationship between the crabs and migratory shorebirds, and horseshoe crab and shorebird adaptations for survival.
Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom is a DNR program that affords teachers and students alike the opportunity to better understand the scientific process through the collection of valuable scientific information. Teachers are provided with the equipment, an activity guide, and horseshoe crab eggs to support the learning of ecological, medical and historical importance of the species. Schools participating in the program include elementary, middle and high schools in the public, private, and home school domains throughout the state of Maryland.
Teachers are required to attend a 6-hour training workshop. At the workshop, they learn about the life history, management, and development of both eggs and juvenile horseshoe crabs. In addition, they will receive horseshoe crab eggs collected by DNR biologists, learn to set up and maintain their aquarium, monitor the environmental and chemical conditions, and review lesson plans. The program accepts 30 new teachers each year.
The Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom Field Days are as follows:
Tuesday, May 17
Severn School, Anne Arundel County, 45 students<br />
Pointers Run Elementary School, Howard County, 15 students<br />
Vansville Elem., Prince George County, 45 students
Thursday, May 19<br />
Seat Pleasant Elementary School, Prince George County, 30 students<br />
St Marks School, Baltimore County, 40 students<br />
John Poole Middle School, Montgomery County, 30 students
Tuesday, May 24<br />
Murray Hill Middle School, Howard County, 40 students<br />
Harbor School of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, 30 students<br />
The Summit School, Anne Arundel County, 13 students<br />
Calverton School, Calvert County, 19 students
Thursday, May 26<br />
Broadneck Elementary, Anne Arundel County, 48 students<br />
The Learning Community Home School Group, Anne Arundel County, 4 students<br />
Indian Creek School, Anne Arundel County, 20 students
For more information on the Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom program, contact Stacy Epperson at 410-260-8775 or by email at sepperson@dnr.state.md.us.
The field days mark the culmination of months of study for students involved in the Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom program, a partnership program with the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service which teaches Maryland students about horseshoe crabs and the management of this important species.
"This is a great opportunity for the students to celebrate what they have learned, release horseshoe crabs they have raised, and participate in a host of hands-on activities," said Stacy Epperson, DNR Education Specialist.
At each event, students who were involved in the raising of the crabs will visit several stations where they will learn about the horseshoe crab's life history, the ecological relationship between the crabs and migratory shorebirds, and horseshoe crab and shorebird adaptations for survival.
Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom is a DNR program that affords teachers and students alike the opportunity to better understand the scientific process through the collection of valuable scientific information. Teachers are provided with the equipment, an activity guide, and horseshoe crab eggs to support the learning of ecological, medical and historical importance of the species. Schools participating in the program include elementary, middle and high schools in the public, private, and home school domains throughout the state of Maryland.
Teachers are required to attend a 6-hour training workshop. At the workshop, they learn about the life history, management, and development of both eggs and juvenile horseshoe crabs. In addition, they will receive horseshoe crab eggs collected by DNR biologists, learn to set up and maintain their aquarium, monitor the environmental and chemical conditions, and review lesson plans. The program accepts 30 new teachers each year.
The Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom Field Days are as follows:
Tuesday, May 17
Severn School, Anne Arundel County, 45 students<br />
Pointers Run Elementary School, Howard County, 15 students<br />
Vansville Elem., Prince George County, 45 students
Thursday, May 19<br />
Seat Pleasant Elementary School, Prince George County, 30 students<br />
St Marks School, Baltimore County, 40 students<br />
John Poole Middle School, Montgomery County, 30 students
Tuesday, May 24<br />
Murray Hill Middle School, Howard County, 40 students<br />
Harbor School of Annapolis, Anne Arundel County, 30 students<br />
The Summit School, Anne Arundel County, 13 students<br />
Calverton School, Calvert County, 19 students
Thursday, May 26<br />
Broadneck Elementary, Anne Arundel County, 48 students<br />
The Learning Community Home School Group, Anne Arundel County, 4 students<br />
Indian Creek School, Anne Arundel County, 20 students
For more information on the Raising Horseshoe Crabs in the Classroom program, contact Stacy Epperson at 410-260-8775 or by email at sepperson@dnr.state.md.us.