Thunderbolt Elementary Marine Science School (TEMSS) is a Pre-K through 5th grade public school located 0.2 miles from the beautiful Wilmington River and 11.0 miles from the Atlantic Ocean. TEMSS serves 510 children from throughout the Savannah/Chatham County Public School District.
Marine Science is integrated throughout all curricular disciplines and taught by all teachers on staff. Living in a Coastal Community students learn the importance water plays in sustaining life on the planet. Fundamental elements of ocean conservation are infused within each grade level. Fresh and salt water aquariums abound with a Marine Science Lab to enrich student schema. TEMSS provides an "Ocean of Opportunity" to promote academic excellence!
News & Information
Thunderbolt Elementary Marine Science Specialty Program was awarded the distinction of #1 Magnet School in the Nation as presented by Magnet Schools of America.
Pre-K, Kindergarten, 1st Grade, 2nd Grade, 3rd Grade, 4th Grade, 5th Grade
EE Programs:
After School Programs, Celebration or Special Event, Club for Students, Committee to Support School-wide EE Efforts, Environmental Monitoring/Citizen Science Projects, Environmental Service Learning Projects, Field Trips and/or Outreach Programs for Students, Professional Learning Opportunities for Teachers, Teaching Materials or Kits for Teachers
Throughout the school year, clean-up projects, plant and animal identification/observation, and a variety of learning activities take place in the outdoor classroom, located approximately 0.2 miles from the school in a naturalized marsh/estuary situated on the Wilmington River. Citizen projects for "Adopt a Stream" and Earth Day have students and parents actively involved in pollution control and environmental conservation. The Marine Science Enrichment Enthusiasts, LINKS, Inc. Healthy Challenge and Girls on the Run promote healthy lifestyles, scientific/academic exploration, and help to citizens in need, strengthening character and encouraging personal growth.
Field Trips including Oatland Island Wildlife Center, Tybee Island Marine Science Center, Skidaway Institute Aquarium, Savannah State University Marine Science Department's Tidal Marsh, Wilmington River Pontoon Boat Discovery Trip, Burton 4-H Center, Tybee Lighthouse and Old Fort Screven, Atlantic Ocean at Tybee Island Beachfront, Nancy Foster and Savannah Research Vessels, and Thunderbolt Fishing Community provide rich experiences, building an intrinsic base for students to conserve as they grow to adulthood.
The Marine Science Lead Lab Teacher is Project WET and WILD certified. Teachers engage in workshops for Coastal Ecology, Marine Mammals, Sea Turtles, Shorebirds, and Georgia's Amazing Coast. Faculty members belong to the Georgia Association of Marine Education (GAME), National Marine Educators Association (NMEA), Georgia Science Teachers Assn. and a variety of local organizations interested in conserving "green space." STC® and GEMS® Science kits provide concrete experiences for our students. The inclusion of the Houghton-Mifflin Science series and FOSS kits from our district increase "hands-on/minds-on" experiences for all students.
Big Splash Day culminates the school year with a variety of special guests, presentations, and marine science activities for all to enjoy.
Green and Healthy School Features and Activities:
Chemical Management, Energy Conservation, Environmentally Preferable Purchasing, Hazardous Materials Management, Litter Prevention, Natural Learning and Play Area, Recycling (3-5 material types), Waste Reduction, Water Conservation, Water Pollution Prevention, Wildlife Habitat Restoration
Water and electricity conservation highlight our efforts. Led by student patrols of fourth and fifth graders, we monitor empty classrooms, meeting areas, storage closets, and "nooks and crannies" located throughout the campus. We recycle plastic bottles and reuse them for a variety of science and art projects/activities, as well as transporting them to the local recycling center along with aluminum cans. Newspapers and magazines are handled in the same format. Printer cartridges are collected and recycled at a local office supply store. Old Tennis balls from a local court make excellent noise buffers on the ends of table and chair legs. Through extensive study of marine and land habitats students reclaim natural areas wherever they happen to visit. We try to reduce, reuse, and recycle all consumable materials used at home and at school.
Outdoor Classroom Features:
Bird Feeding Station, Garden - Butterflies / Insect Pollinators, Garden - Hummingbird Pollinators, Garden - Theme, Greenhouse, Picnic Tables, Benches, or other Study Sites, Weather Station
Second and third grade classrooms beautify our environment while providing a much-needed resource in planting butterfly gardens around our Classroom Learning Cottages. We are blessed with a variety of natural resources and habitats within walking distance of our facility. Student hikes provide a wealth of learning opportunities for children at all grade levels.
Recognition for Excellence in EE:
2009-2010 - #1 Magnet School in the Nation as designated by Magnet Schools of America
2009-2010 - Title I School of Distinction
2008-2009 - National Magnet School of Excellence from Magnet Schools of America
2008-2009 - Title I School of Distinction
2008-2009 - Sylvan Dell Publishing Grant for 1 District School.
2008-2009 - Ocean Guardianship Award recognition for conservation from the National Marine Sancuaries Program sponsored by NOAA
2008-2009 Recognition by the Environmental Education Association with National Gardening Registry.
2007-2008 Three First Place Student Winners in the Visual Arts and Essay Contest Sponsored by Savannah State University - "Sea-ing is Believing" Competition
2006-2007 National Emerging Magnet School of Distinction from Magnet Schools of America
2006-2007 International Media Festival Contest Winners - Four students
2005 & 2006 Recognition from the Thunderbolt Town Council for theme implementation
EE Strengths and Needs:
Strengths: We have developed a Georgia Performance Standards Based Interdisciplinary Marine Science Curriculum for each grade level. Each grade level studies a particular area of the marine environment, culminating in oceans at the fifth grade. Veteran teachers at each grade level guide students and new teachers alike into the fascinating study of marine sciences. The committment of the faculty to embrace marine science is our greatest strength. The excitement and enthausiam of the participants carries over to the students. "For in the end they will conserve only what they know. They will love only what they are taught."
Community Partners in EE:
Savannah State University's Marine Science Dept. - Professors teach plate tetonics, fish dissection, plankton fashioning, plankton monitoring, supply salt water for our large aquarium, and lend support for many facets of the program.
LINKS, Inc. - Currently promoting student health and wellness. Assists and provides activities/prizes for Big Splash Day, invitational events such as Math/Science and Reading Family Nights.
Skidaway Institute of Oceanography - Provides field trips, tours of research vessels, boat trips to Little Tybee Island, and professional support from a variety of professors and research scientists to conduct presentations, workshops, and assist as needed.
Gray's Reef - provides resources, websites, posters, and personnel to assist in teaching marine science.
Tybee Island Marine Science Center, Oatland Island Wildlife Center, NOAA, COSEE, Sapelo Island National Estuarine Research Reserve (SINERR) and DNR all assist the program at a variety of levels.
EE Professional Organization Membership:
GA - Environmental Education Alliance (EEA) of Georgia
Ecoregion(s)
Southern Coastal Plain (Ecoregion 75)
Riverbasin(s)
Savannah River Basin
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Related Topics
- 1st Grade
- 2nd Grade
- 3rd Grade
- 4th Grade
- 5th Grade
- After School Programs
- Bird Feeding Station
- Celebration or Special Event
- Chemical Management
- Citizen Science Resources
- Club for Students
- Committee to Support School-wide EE Efforts
- Energy Conservation
- Environmentally Preferable Purchasing
- Field Trips / Programs
- Garden - Butterflies / Insect Pollinators
- Garden - Hummingbird Pollinators
- Garden - Theme
- Green and Healthy School
- Greenhouse
- Hazardous Materials Management
- Kindergarten
- Litter Prevention
- Natural Learning and Play Area
- Picnic Area
- Pre-K
- Professional Development
- Public School
- Recycling (3-5 material types)
- School
- Teaching Material or Kit for Teachers
- Volunteer Opportunities or Service Learning
- Waste Reduction
- Water Conservation
- Water Pollution Prevention
- Weather Station
- Wildlife Habitat Restoration
| Posted |
1/16/2008 12:56 PM |
| Updated |
9/1/2010 |
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