Students in Liz Klein’s Changing Earth science class were pleasantly surprised when their teacher announced that they'd be spending the period outside last Friday. With an unexpected extra class due to the postponement of Marconi Beach Day, Klein decided to take her students exploring, and together they trekked into Beebe Woods. “We went into the woods to enjoy the cool, crisp weather, and to look for signs of seasonal change,” said Klein.

She encouraged her students to see with new eyes and try to discover something that they never noticed before, such as an organism's home. This led to spontaneous conversations about local ecology, the interdependence of plants and animals, climate change, and a general wondering about the beauty and business of the natural world. 

Pictured here are two students investigating an ant colony they discovered under a rock.