5th Grade School Vacation Marine Exploration Program
When (Students may register for one or both sessions): dates TBA
Session 1 Science:
Tues., Wed., Thurs., and Fri. 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Students may be dropped off after 8:45 a.m.
Session 2 Science + Sailing:
Mon., Tues. & Wed. & Thursday, 9 a.m. – 12 p.m.
Students may be dropped off after 8:45 a.m.
What: See what it is like to be a Sail Newport Marine Exploration Program (MEP) student In this half-day course, kids will discover the similarities of the waters, creatures, and vessels of the Narragansett Bay! Through hands-on activities, games, and outdoor explorations students will identify characteristics of local sea creatures and how their features are similar to human creations around nautical engineering. AKA: Each day is filled with beach exploration, beach collecting, clams, designing, creating, games, magnifying glasses, muscles, building stuff, boats, fish, a lot of testing in tubs of water, and learning about creatures of the ocean!
Why:
This program is an introduction to the 6th-8th grade Thompson Middle School Marine Exploration After-School Program. Students will get an introduction to Sail Newport, the public sailing center, and Newport Harbor.
Cost: TBD
(Confidential financial aid is available through the registration process)
Where: Fort Adams State ParkSail Newport 72 Fort Adams Drive
Newport, RI 02840
Snack:
A snack will be provided but feel free to send students with a light snack. We are a nut-free zone.
Sail Newport Contact:
Kim Hapgood, Program Director
Tel. (401) 846-1983
Session 1 Topics
| Day 1: Winter Beach Exploration | Students will explore the beach, learn about its diverse marine life, and develop a deeper appreciation for the ecosystem. Fifth graders will participate in a scavenger hunt and create shoebox habitats. |
| Day 2: What do plankton and ships have in common? | Students explore displacement and surface tension by designing and testing a floating object in various conditions, using multiple tubs of water. |
| Day 3: Where are the levers? | Students will investigate how ocean creatures and sailboats use levers. Explore the variety of levers used by different animals! |
| Day 4: Seaweed! | Let’s compare seaweed to everything. What importance does it have to the environment? |
Session 2 Topics
| Day 1: Sailing with Ocean Currents | Students will learn about the tides and ocean currents of the Narragansett Bay from our J22s while sailing with a certified instructor and their peers. |
| Day 2: Sailing and Ocean Debris | Students will dive into sailing to get more time on the J22s. Afterward, kids will learn how different densities affect the drift of ocean debris throughout our oceans. |
| Day 3: Sailing and Ocean Debris Clean-Up | Students will fine-tune their sailing fun on their third day of sailing the J22s! We will close out our vacation program with a beach clean-up to do our part to help the waters we sail on! |
What to wear
Our goal is to be outside as much as possible.
- Please have students wear layers of clothing appropriate for the day’s weather.
- Close-toed shoes are a must.
- Waterbottle
We have warm, dry classroom space so during inclement weather we will be inside.
Contact: Kim Hapgood, Program Director