Kacie Horton

Ms. Kacie Horton’s class examines the oysters while being led by an instructor.

Ms. Kacie Horton’s senior marine biology class prepared for a field trip to Galveston on Oct. 9. 

Ms. Horton, Upper School director of service learning, said the trip is designed around inquiry-based learning, allowing students to conduct real-world investigations and labs rather than relying on memorization for learning. 

“It’s myself and 13 students,” Ms. Horton said,  adding that students will explore marine ecosystems and develop questions based on their research and observations.

The day-long field trip will have students gathering data on Galveston’s oyster reefs, collecting alive and dead oysters and performing biodiversity measurements. 

“We’re going the whole day during the school hours,” Ms. Horton said. 

Using aquatic ID cards, students will also participate in seining activities to capture and identify various marine species.

Before the trip, the class has been preparing with labs that introduce biodiversity concepts, comparing the plant and animal life between Houston and Galveston.

“In class, we’ve been working on inquiries about ecosystems and how they are impacted by environmental variables. I hope this trip will give us a deeper understanding of how pollution and other factors affect marine life,” said junior Isabel Werlin.

According to the Galveston Bay Estuary Program, oyster reefs are crucial to the environment, serving as natural water filters by consuming algae and improving the condition of the water. They also provide habitats for marine species and act as barriers during storm surges. 

Through this project, students will gain a deeper understanding of these ecosystems.

The class began preparing for the trip with labs that introduce biodiversity concepts, comparing the plant and animal life between Houston and Galveston. The students will be working alongside the Galveston Bay Foundation, which focuses on protecting and restoring shorelines. 

Ms. Horton and her students’ journey of discovery and environmental stewardship aims to foster a connection between classroom learning and real-world application.