Students in Thomas County Middle School’s sixth grade MERIT program recently attended Wahsega 4-H Center in Dahlonega for their end-of-the-year field trip. Students attended hands-on classes to get in touch with the natural world.

During astronomy class, students were exposed to asterisms, constellations, stories related to the constellations, significant stars, and planets using the inflatable star lab. In the entomology class, students learned the characteristics and body parts of insects while having the opportunity to hold a Brazilian cockroach and dissect a grasshopper. 

Learning about herpetology was a student favorite. After participating in a group discussion to identify characteristics of reptiles and amphibians students were able to hold native, non-venomous species. 

Students participated in several courses that enhanced their understanding of the essential components of habitats, the importance of good habitat for animals, what limiting factors affect animals and the importance of predator/prey relationships.

One of the fun activities was watching teachers play “bat and moth” with them acting as “trees.” Another student favorite was stream ecology. The students participated in activities that enhanced their understanding of the water cycle and aquatic ecosystems; students also captured, identified, and observed stream animals such as salamanders and crayfish.