FEBRUARY 27, 2008

Second Grade Teacher Brings Endangered Species

Research to Life for her Students

In the summer of 2006, Villa Academy second-grade teacher Barbara Purn received a fellowship to travel to the coast of Kenya with Earthwatch Institute and study the stress habits of Sykes monkeys in their natural environment. She spent her days finding and  following monkeys through the dense forests and meticulously recording their movements.

“My primary goal … was to find opportunities to bring my experiences back into my second grade classroom,” Mrs. Purn wrote in her final blog of the expedition, where she outlined some lesson plans that would coincide with her students’ studies. Her Kenya expedition took place during summer vacation, however, so her students were not able to engage directly with her while she was there – a fact that left the dedicated teacher feeling that there must be more she could do to further enliven her lessons.

With that thought in mind, in 2007 Mrs. Purn applied to Earthwatch to have her class “host” another teacher traveling and volunteering with an Earthwatch expedition. “I was very specific,” Mrs. Purn said. “In second grade we study maps, landforms, and endangered species, so I knew I wanted to find a project that would align with these curricula.”

In January, the teacher learned that Earthwatch had found a match. Her students would have the exciting opportunity to host middle school science teacher Jennifer Seshadri remotely, as she studied Leatherback sea turtles in Costa Rica. Students would follow Seshadri’s blog, ask her questions electronically, and speak directly to her through Skype and web cams.

“My students and I were very excited to participate with Jennifer in her field work. The kids were thrilled to apply their recent lessons in maps and landforms, as well as begin to explore endangered species, which we will study in-depth later this year” Mrs. Purn said. “My own experience in Kenya was incredible and helped enhance our second grade science curriculum. I’m happy we can continue the tradition and virtually engage with Ms. Seshadri as she helps the endangered Leatherbacks.”

Villa Academy second-graders followed Seshadri’s ten-day research trip that began on January 23, 2008, and which involved counting and cataloguing Leatherback Turtle eggs, as well as working with the beach-side hatchery that is helping reestablish the population of the endangered animals. The students tracked Seshadri’s expedition via three computers in their classroom and were able to follow her adventures from home at http://earthwatchxtreme.org/LFF/Marymount.

The students regularly posted questions to Seshadri’s blog, often about Costa Rica’s geological features. In addition, they were guided in their own internet research on the endangered Leatherback. Through this research the students developed thoughtful questions about the turtles’ behaviors, habitat, and precarious future. These questions were discussed during a live, conversation with the teacher via web cams on January 28. 

“I really like sea turtles and was excited to see Ms. Seshadri’s pictures and read about the turtles,” said Max K., a student in Barbara Purn’s classroom. “I especially liked the questions she asked us and researching the answers. I liked learning that the eggs are like ping-pong balls. I wish we could have seen the turtles in Costa Rica with her.”

Read some of the questions Barbara Purn’s second-graders asked Jennifer Seshadri through their web-cam correspondence.

Click here to learn more about Earthwatch Institute

Barbara Purn’s Earthwatch Blog

Jennifer Seshadri’s Earthwatch Blog

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