Teaneck Community Charter School

Fourth grade students from Teaneck Community Charter School (T.C.C.S.) became little “ecologists,” exploring the salt marsh within an estuary on a recent field trip to the Meadowlands Environmental Center. Students engaged in many “hands on” activities, which is the focus of T.C.C.S.’s mission statement.

This science expedition on October 10th followed a brief introduction to the habitat. The students took a field walk to investigate the sights, sounds and smells of the salt marsh. Along the way, students made observations about the weather, physical environment, fauna and flora. Students used dip nets to collect and identify the aquatic organisms that inhabit the marsh.

Working with live specimens, the students learned how to make observations of nature and how to record their observations through journaling and sketching. Students will fill in a salt marsh food chain and explain some other relationships within it. All students brought their salt marsh journal back to school with them and will be using them to complete a writing assignment about their experience.