Living Classrooms

Academic Programs –> Living Classrooms Foundation Boat Trip –> City Gate

Living Classrooms Boat Trip

This program introduces students to an aquatic food web. The highlight is a boat trip on the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers conducted by Living Classrooms. During this trip students catch and identify fish, dissect clams, and use a microscope to examine plankton - all while enjoying stunning views of their city! Students prepare for the trip with classroom activities that teach them to distinguish carnivores from herbivores, describe the characteristics and role of plankton, and explore the interconnected nature of an aquatic food web. While on the boat, students also learned about buoyancy by building small boats.


Out on the water, a student joys a moment at the helm. (top left) Students identify various organs while dissecting clams. (top right) After using a net to catch fish, students learn how to gently and safely hold a fish in their hands. (right) Students prepare to catch plankton. (below right) With guidance from a Living Classrooms educator, students examine a water sample for plankton before using a microscope to aid their efforts. (below left)