Using Song to learn about the marine algae that glows in the dark.

Students learn about the marine algae Pyrocystis fusiformis.  Each seventh grade student at R.J. Frank Academy of Marine Science and Engineering received a lesson from two or three Cal State University Channel Islands science students.  They learned what Pyrocystis fusiformis is, why it is important, where it lives and how to take care of it.  Students also received a vial of the algae that they can take home and watch it glow at night.  This activity is designed to spark an interest in marine science education as well as to promote a college going culture.

Sixth Graders Visit the Sea Center in Santa Barbara

Students modeled beach erosion and learned how the beach profile can change with  the seasons.

Students measured the slope of the beach.

At R.J. Frank Academy of Marine Science and Engineering, students are getting fantastic educational experiences.

Students are using their math skills  to determine the slope of the beach.

While one group of students was outside determining the beach profile and learning about erosion,....

......the other group of students was on the wharf at the Sea Center Aquarium....

.....learning about the ecology of the kelp forest and other marine habitats.

The students learned that bat stars, sea urchins, and sea cucumbers all belong to the same group of animals called the echinoderms.

Students even got to pet a shark.

Electronic Engineering in the Science Classroom

Students design circuits on paper first and then using LittleBits hardware build their projects.

In this challenge a motion sensor is triggered which completes a circuit and lights an LED.

In this challenge  a light sensor is placed in the circuit so the LED turns off when the box is closed.

Computer engineering and robotics in the 8th grade science classroom at R.J. Frank Academy of Marine Science and Engineering

R.J. Frank Students visit The Western Foundation of Vertebrate Zoology, Or what the kids call "The Bird Museum"

After the visit to the bird museum, students went "birding" at Parque Del Sol.