Environmental Science shines brightly: the solar eclipse
By Olivia Garrett
Chatwin Environmental Science students pictured by Mrs.Chatwin
Capitalizing on a once in a lifetime event, OHS environmental science classes took an all day long trip this April 8th to witness the solar eclipse in its totality. After traveling the four hour drive to Idabel Oklahoma, Mrs.Chatwin and her students explored the Red Slough Wildlife Conservation in all its beauty. Using this opportunity as an educational experience, students used the multitude of activities the day presented to learn together in science and research.
“We went out and looked for alligators while we waited for the totality to hit. We saw lots of animals, critters and birds. We even saw some dead animals,” Chatwin explains.
Encountering a plethora of different animals, Chatwin's students learned more about the wildlife and nature of rural Oklahoma. Students viewed, analyzed and observed the wildlife’s behavior as totality neared and watched as the animals acted in strange and unusual ways.
“I didn’t expect how loud the frogs would be right before it got dark. You could hear all the crickets and all of the bugs that come out at night get really loud. I saw the birds flying away to get ready for the night,” student Hannah Stephens recalls.
Shocked by the wildlife’s abnormal actions, the students reported what they had seen and used their findings to fuel their hypotheses in the classroom. Additionally, there were several different scientists and helpful researchers at the conservation who helped teach the students more information regarding environmental science.
Chatwin Environmental Science students pictured by Mrs.Woods
“Several of the students … were taught different bird calls by a biologist at the site as they watched the birds chirping. They had a really good time doing that.” Chatwin attests.
Following these extraordinary findings the students basked in the awe of the eclipse and waited for the event to reach totality. The event was like nothing the students had ever experienced before and the true wonder of this natural phenomenon had begun to set in for those witnessing it.
“I was really excited about seeing everything go completely dark. It was like something out of a sci-fi movie.” Stephens proclaims.
All students who were able to attend this magical experience were amazed and bewildered by the rare sight, noting the experience as something otherworldly or out of a movie scene. When totality had finally arised students, teachers and volunteers alike stopped and marveled at the one of a kind occurrence.
“The sun was really cool because it looked like a black hole with a ring of light around it. It looked like one of those apocalyptic movies while everyone looked at it in awe.”
Chatwin Environmental Science students pictured by Mrs.Woods
Having witnessed this natural phenomenon with their peers, the group surely had a memorable and formative experience on the excitement filled trip. Given its success, Chatwin and other administrators alike recognized this remarkable opportunity as special. Their desire and passion for knowledge for the environment and the world around them was truly able to be shown and explored on this exceptional journey.
Chatwin gleams as she shares, “The students were amazed by the whole experience. When all of the sudden all kinds of animals and animal calls come out it’s just like, woah.”
This momentous occasion will and has continued to pour over into the students daily lives. Environmental science students and teachers alike will continue to let their findings on the trip influence and fuel their ongoing research in the classroom. Sure to remember this day for years to come, all who attended the solar eclipse trip acknowledged it as an undeniable success.