On January 8th, a new 5th grade club was established at SMA, the Junior Master Naturalists (JMN) club. The JMN program provides 5th grade students with an understanding of Texas’ plants, water, soils and wildlife while developing a sense of stewardship in our environment. Members will enjoy hands-on classroom activities and field trips to local nature preserves and educational facilities.
This past Saturday, January 13th, Ms. Mathis led the SMA 5th Grade Junior Master Naturalists (JMN) on their very first JMN club field trip. Sixteen 5th graders spent the morning exploring the Patton Marine Science Center in Port Aransas. Students explored interactive displays, got their hands wet in a ‘touch tank’ while holding crabs and shrimp, stood in awe of large aquariums displaying the marine life of local estuaries, and participated in an instructor-led activity about Symbiosis in the Sea. The students had a wonderful time exploring and learning about the amazing marine life and research occurring along the Central Texas coast.
