Richmond Student Scientists Investigate Bay Ecology
By: Aliya Schwartz
KIDS for the BAY (KftB) students from Nystrom Elementary School in Richmond beamed with excitement as they jumped off their bus and peered out onto Keller Beach and the beautiful, gray-green waters of the San Francisco Bay. KftB Educator Aliya Schwartz asked the second graders to put on their imaginary scientist hats for their bay field trip. “Why do you think visiting somewhere familiar might be extra special if we look at it through a scientific lens?” asked Teacher Aliya. “Maybe we will see things differently than we have before,” suggested Carley. “Yes, today we will be exploring and investigating the bay shoreline at Keller Beach like scientists!” Teacher Aliya explained.
This school year, in partnership with the Richmond Outdoors Coalition (ROC), KftB empowered hundreds of Richmond students from Nystrom Elementary and Verde K-8 School and their families to connect with nature, explore their local watersheds like scientists, and take action to help keep these environments clean and healthy. The program culminated in special bus field trips to creek, bay and ocean habitats, engaging students with their watershed environments as living laboratories for scientific learning and discovery.
The young scientists from Nystrom Elementary learned about the anatomy, adaptations and classifications of the organisms they might find in the intertidal zone, including pile worms and blue mussels. “Flex your blue mussel!” Teacher Aliya encouraged; students giggled and flexed their biceps. “Mussels are bivalves, which means they have two shells that open,” said Nasir. “Mussels hold onto rocks. Don’t pull them off, leave them be,” Antonella reminded her classmates.
On the rocky shore, students carefully lifted small rocks and spotted green shore crabs, beach hoppers and aquatic pill bugs. “I found a bunch of beach hoppers! They’re little bugs that live in the wet sand. They are sometimes called sand fleas!” said Julianna. “I found bones! I think it’s part of a spine, maybe from a bird,” predicted Arely. “There’s barnacles all over this rock. They make the surface of the rock feel rough and bumpy,” observed Issac. Gabriel and Salvador found some very small crabs, “This is my first time holding a crab!” said Salvador. “I am so surprised there is so much life on the shore!” added Lyvette. “I did not see any crabs when I came here in the past. I think we need to slow down, stay quiet and investigate like scientists to be able to see them!” suggested Santana. “The crab I was holding did not want to leave my hand. I think I made him feel comfortable and safe in my crab cave,” shared Frankie. “I found a crab! I wish I could take him home, but I know it’s better if he stays in his own habitat near the water,” said Mayar.
The young Environmentalists also practiced their listening and observational skills by making Sound Maps of their surroundings at Keller Beach. Teacher Aliya passed out clipboards, pencils and paper, and students spread out along the length of the sandy beach, turning their ears on and their voices off. They carefully identified sounds around them and sketched illustrations to represent each sound. “I hear seabirds and water lapping on the shore,” Arely whispered to Teacher Aliya. Students discussed how it felt to be quiet and still in this special bay habitat. “At first I thought it was silent, but slowly I noticed more and more sounds,” explained Caliza. “I never knew you could hear so many birds here if you stop to listen,” added Julianna. This moment of quiet reflection provided students with an opportunity to practice using all of their senses to make and record scientific observations, and helped increase their connections with the Keller Beach watershed environment. The students also practiced mindfulness and became fully engaged in nature and fully present in their own bodies.
Using KftB Plant Guides specific to the flora at Keller Beach, students went on a plant hike and identified each shrub, tree and patch of greenery. “I can tell this is a coyote bush because the leaves are round and they have ridged edges,” shared Ashley. Students identified native plants, including Monterey pine and California blackberry, and non-native plants, including fennel, ice plants and Pride of Madeira. “Now I know that the low-growing plants that cover the little hills by the bay and the ocean are called ice plants!” remarked Aniyah.
The young scientists left their field trip overflowing with excitement from the day’s discoveries, curiosities and Aha moments! “I can’t wait to come back with my family and show them the shore crabs!” said Camila. “Today I had my scientist hat on, and I made so many new discoveries!” shared Brianna.
This field trip was made possible by our partnership with the Richmond Outdoors Coalition!
