PUT-IN-BAY, Ohio — Nestled within the Lake Erie Islands is Stone Laboratory, run by The Ohio State University for almost 100 years.
The lab introduces students and adults to the basics of field-based biological science. On this day over 40 fifth-graders from Berea-Midpark Middle School are up for the challenge. First was going microscopic to see what's in the water, viewing both plant and animal plankton. Plankton is the base of the web, fueling the Lake Erie's ecosystem.
"This has been a lot of years in the making,” said Berea-Midpark Middle School fifth-grade teacher Mark Simon. “Trying to take what we're learning in the classroom to get out of the classroom, put away their devices for a day, and come out and have a chance to be a scientist."
Then it's outside, with nets in hand, to collect creatures called macroinvertebrates. Some macroinvertebrates don't like pollution at all, while others can tolerate it. So, depending on what creatures are found is a good indicator of water quality.
"I got water in my boots from this. And my favorite thing was looking at looking at things at the plankton lab," said Jaliyah Williams-Haynes, a fifth-grader at Berea-Midpark Middle School.
"One thing I've learned is how the mayflies, one of the creatures that are living in the lake, how they are very important for the lake,” chimed in fifth-grader Ayahuna Ali. “And they like, give purpose to the birds because the birds eat them. And without the mayflies, they would be no more birds."
In the fish lab students identified different species through scientific methods. And in the pursuit of knowledge some fish were dissected, to mixed reactions.
"Dissecting the fish, while I was holding it, it was really gross,” said Mickaella Dzierzawski. “I got used to it."
Yes, science can get messy, but these students saw the value in the experience.
"This is very amazing and a great science topic to work on. And I'm very glad to be here,” said Ali with a smile. “And just have this amazing time to work with.
"The true meaning of this field trip is to get kids to learning science outdoors,” Simon said. “Some of these students might choose a career based on today's field trip. So just a great opportunity, and I'm very thankful that we had it for our students this year."
Simon wants to make these field trips an annual event, and was recently approved for an Ohio EPA grant so future fifth-graders can experience Stone Laboratory.