The Laker/Lutz News

Serving Pasco since 1981/Serving Lutz since 1964

Environmental day offers hands-on lessons

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Academy at the Lakes, an independent school in Land O’ Lakes, recently hosted its fourth annual Senior Kindergarten Environmental Science Habitat Celebration Day. During the day, students in the senior kindergarten class were paired with eighth-graders as they moved through several student-led activity stations. The stations — prepared by the school’s Upper Division environmental science class — included a water pollution activity, a decomposer/worm station, a bear hibernation activity, and a bird feeder craft. Students also took a ‘floating classroom’ boat tour of Lake Myrtle.

Nathan Metzger, right, a kindergartner at Academy at The Lakes, points out an alligator during environmental day near a dock on Lake Myrtle, as kindergarten teacher Lauren Braxton, left, eighth-grader Ethan Keys, and fellow kindergartener Brayden Do look on. The group took a trip on the ‘Floating Classroom,’ operated by U.S. Coastguard certified boat captain Sheri Mahoney, to observe birds and other wildlife along the lake. (Christine Holtzman)
Students participating in the pollution activity learned a lesson about the negative effects of water pollution on marine animals and the environment. During this sensory activity, students used nets to collect water beads and small toy animals that were contained in plastic totes. If an animal was collected along with a black water bead — which represented pollution — the animal had to be quarantined. The exercise prompted a discussion regarding what could have prevented the situation. From left: Rio Lemra, Emily Halfpenny, Summer Senior, Nicole Gilleland and Mandy Ling.
At the decomposer station, Piper Kienast, left, and Nathan Metzger make edible dirt cups. The treats consisted of pudding, crushed Oreos, chocolate chips, and gummy worms. Before making the ‘dirt cups,’ the students watched a PowerPoint lesson on dirt and worms. Kacey Akins, Jackie Laihinen and Andrey Chee led the exercise.

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