Welcome to the Manatee Project website.  Starting April 29, 2002, the Plante/Knight/Moore team at Deering Middle School will be embarking upon a very special journey.  Thanks to the vision of the Earthwatch Institute and the generosity of the Rhode Island Foundation, their science teacher will have the unique opportunity to study manatees live in the field with scientists at Mote Marine Laboratories in the Sarasota, Florida area. 

    While Miss Audra Plante is live in the field, she will communicate with her students through journals, digital pictures and data which will be posted here daily during the duration of the trip.  There will also be several opportunities for video-conferencing within this two week period.  In sharing this adventure together the entire team will develop a new appreciation for this endangered species while observing first hand how the scientific method is used as an effective research and discovery tool.  Finally, students will analyze data and information gathered over the two week period in order to draw their own conclusions and develop an appropriate action plan for saving this endangered species.  The team will also look at this experience in a broader sense and examine global issues involving all endangered species in our world.

     Check back often to see samples of student work along with journals and pictures from the manatee adventure!  Thanks for your support.  Our class has already determined that the most important step in the recovery of any species is public education.  We are fortunate that our website will be a part of this effort.

Created by Audra Plante

Last Updated on April 27, 2002