The Dauphin Island Sea Lab brought the wonder and the mysteries of the sea to the students at Pike County Elementary School Wednesday.
Dauphin Island Sea Lab is Alabama’s marine research facility. The Lab’s Bay Mobile is a traveling “sea show” that goes around the state bringing the sea to schools that don’t have the opportunity to visit the sea lab site.
“We have schools from all across Alabama and beyond that visit the Dauphin Island Sea Lab every year,” said Greg Graeber, a Sea Lab employee “However, there are many schools that don’t have that opportunity so we take the lab to them. We want all students, kindergarten through 12th grade, to know that life forms beneath the sea are fascinating but they can also be so bazaar that they rival science fiction.”
Graeber said the Dauphin Island Sea Lab Bay Mobile visits schools, free of charge, through grant funding and between 12,000 and 15,000 students benefit each year. In addition, more than 12,000 people visit Dauphin Island Sea Lab on Dauphin Island annually.
“Science is fascinating and so is the sea,” Graeber said. “It’s almost incredible that all of the sea animals that we have on display, with the exception of about three, live in or around coastal Alabama.”
Graeber said the whole idea of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab mobile unit is to introduce students and teachers to the wonders of the sea.
The PCES students were wide-eyed with wonder as Graeber showed an octopus and explained why it has three hearts. They marveled at the thought that the eye of a flounder actually moved from one side of its body to the other. They were amazed to learn that spinner sharks inhabit the coastal waters of their state and shook their heads in disbelief that a shrimp mantist is faster than a speeding bullet.
“There are so many fascinating things about sea life and we hope that the students are motivated to learn more,” Graeber said. “Most of them have no idea that the sponges their mothers buy to wash their faces are actually the dead bodies of animals. The sea is a fascinating place and a place of great discovery.”
Anita Grant, PCES principal, expressed appreciation to Graeber and the Dauphin Island Sea Lab for making the visit to PCES possible.
“Many of our students have never been to the beach,” she said. “And those who have had the experience might have seen a jellyfish or picked up shells on the beach but have never seen sea animals like these. To see and touch sea animals is a unique learning experience for them. And, the hands-on experiences enhance what they have learned from books. This was a great opportunity for them and we appreciate it.”