Anticipating the Coral Reefs!

Greetings Students, Parents, Teachers, Friends, Family, and Foes,

Thanks for checking out my Bahamian Reef Survey Blog! Its my first Blog, and I'm so excited to share my adventure with you in this way. You can read more about my expedition on the Earthwatch website, http://www.earthwatch.org/exped/rollino_research.html.
At the bottom of this page you can subscribe to my blog with your e-mail address and get notified every time I post a new entry. Please feel free to comment (enthusiastically) as well.
It has been over a year since I first applied to Earthwatch for a teacher fellowship. I feel strongly that actions speak louder than words for many students. I figure one of the best ways that I could turn students on to science research and environmental activism would be to actually do it myself. Our home planet needs lots of kids that care, and perhaps I can show them some of the actions they can take.
I could have been assigned to an expedition anywhere in the world, but I am especially thrilled to be part of a coral reef survey in the Caribbean. After discovering the beauty and wonder of the reefs in Hawaii (at 19 yrs.), I have sailed and snorkeled the Caribbean several times. I feel a strong calling to do whatever I can to learn more about the reefs and to take action to protect them. How grand that you are along for the journey!
Besides all the paperwork, I'm preparing for the trip in several ways. I've sent press releases to 3 Marin County newspapers, and they are all eager to get a story on the students communicating with their teacher Live From the Field. I bought prescription goggles so that I can actually see the corals and fish that I'm supposed to identify. I'm studying up on the fish - see my challenge quiz below. There's a great video in the Neil Cummins Library - Nat'l Geographic's "Treasures of the Caribbean", and lots of other resources to review.
I'll be taking a diving refresher class at Bamboo Reef Marin Scuba, although the diving will be on my own time and not a part of the research survey. I still need to get a shorty wetsuit. Anyone out there have one to lend?
The very competent Brooke Suther will be my classroom partner (substitute teacher) while I'm in the Field. She will be showing the science classes the Blog, the video instant messaging, and other resources. Stuart Reiter is my techno support person, and he may have this Blog up in the computer lab as well. When I return from the trip, we will be using the great materials from the California Academy of Sciences' "Coral Reef Kit" to learn more about the corals, reefs, and why they are threatened over much of the world. What a unique way to meet the science standards!
How can you get involved before I even go? First, learn as much about coral reefs as you can. The library and the Internet are great places to start. You can check out websites, DVDs, books, games, quizzes, the Academy of Sciences' Aquarium, the pet store... Please let me know if you find a resource that you enjoy that I can post for others to know about.
Here's my timeline: Sat, Feb 14 - fly to Florida. Sun, Feb 15 - fly to Cat Island and dive and explore with my family. Fri, Feb. 20 - fly to Nassau to meet up with other teachers on the expedition. Sat, Feb. 21 - fly to San Salvador Island for the Bahamian Reef Survey Expedition. Sat, Feb. 28 - fly home. Talk about fun!

The Fish I.D. Quiz
open up
Review+Slides.pdf
now see if you can identify the fish by the following clues. Number a sheet of paper, 1 - 8, and write the name of the fish next to its identifying markings. Bring your fish list to the science room and you will be entered into the Coral Reef Protectors drawing!

1. has a blackspot ringed with bright blue
2. is bright green, can be over 2.5 feet in length
3. has a bar on its tail - white for juveniles, yellow for adults
4. has two colors
5. is blue, and has almost round body
6. is blue, and juveniles have a yellow spot on their heads
7. has distinct lines along the side of its body
8. has bright blue dots and a yellow tail

Good luck!

Cool Websites: http://www.reefrelief.org/kids/
http://www.coral.org/resources/photobank.html
http://www.coral.org/


Cheers, Ann Brown