Malibu High School students and Juan Cabrillo Elementary School kindergarteners recently got together to conduct beach biology studies at Zuma Beach.
Each spring, when the plankton is blooming and the kindergarten students are studying science, teacher Patti Mehring brings her kindergarteners to the beach, where they team up with high school biology researchers in Bob Perry’s class, who conduct regular weekly analysis of marine life at Zuma.
The younger students shadow the older ones, and get a glimpse of the instruments and some of the species commonly found at the beach. School officials believe the gathering facilitates an enriching experience for both age groups and encourages young students to become interested in the environment while inspiring some high school students to consider becoming educators.