Saturday, January 28, 2012

National Geographic Live: Brian Skerry



Mrs. Yollis and the other third grade students went on a field trip to see Ocean Soul by Brian Skerry. This program was sponsored in part by Ingrid Hanzer on behalf of  National Geographic Live! 
In reading and science, the class is learning about animal habitats. 

The ocean is the world's largest habitat! 



Students line up to board the bus to the Broad Theatre. Thank you, PFC, for sponsoring the travel expenses!



We were met by Dan Beaupre,  director of Educational Partnerships for National Geographic Live! 



Mrs. Yollis, Brian Skerry, Ingrid Hanzer (sponsor), Dan Beaupre

After the presentation, students ate lunch on the grass outside the theater.





Brian Skerry emailed Mrs. Yollis some photographs to use on the class blog! Remember, it is essential to have permission to use someone's work. 

Here are some of Brian Skerry's wonderful photos!

Brian Skerry harp seal photograph used with permission.


Brian Skerry hermit crab  photograph used with permission.



Brian Skerry manatee in fresh water spring photograph used with permission.




Brian Skerry yellow goby photograph used with permission.



Brian Skerry female leatherback turtle photograph used with permission.





Our time spent learning about the ocean with Brian Skerry was inspiring. Here are some watercolor paintings created by students after seeing Mr. Skerry's photographs of the ocean. 

Ocean Watercolors! on PhotoPeach




What did you learn about the ocean from Brian Skerry? 

What did you learn about photography? 

7 comments:

  1. Dear Mrs. Yollis,

    Mr. Skerry's photos are incredible. There is so much expression in every single image.
    Thank you for sharing!

    I have been intensely jealous of Kelly to be able to go on such an amazing field trip and this post made it even worse ;0)

    @ Mrs. Yollis class: Great job with the water color pictures!
    The video is so beautiful and serene, that I had to watch it twice.

    I am grateful that our children had the opportunity to participate in such a special event.

    Warm Regards,

    Henny

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  2. Hello Mrs. Yollis and class,

    Considering about two thirds of the Earth's surface is covered by seas and oceans, the marine habitats are very important to all of us. People have been tot he top of the highest peaks but the greatest depths of the ocean are still unexplored.

    Can you imagine how many animal and plant species are still to discovered?

    Brian Skerry's photos are truly amazing glimpses into the known marine world. My favourite photo is of the manatee. Here we have dugong, very similar animals. Their lives are spent gently grazing sea grasses. I also enjoyed the suggestion they may have been what early sailors saw when they claimed they had seen mermaids in the sea. I think those sailors must have been at sea too long but the manatee and dugong are beautiful animals none the less.

    Learn from photography? We may get the best cameras and lighting, visit the most beautiful places but it can take a keen eye and chance to find the best shot for a photo. Take the yellow goby photo. Many would have passed the can in the water without noticing but the keen eye saw the fish inside and a beautiful photo resulted.

    Your watercolour paintings are brilliant. What better media to use than watercolours for marine scenes. :)

    @RossMannell
    Teacher, NSW, Australia

    ReplyDelete
  3. Aloha Mrs. Yollis and third graders,
    What a wonderful opportunity! You are so lucky to be able to learn about animal habitats in such a special way. Brian Skerry's photograph is simply beautiful and the hermit crab is my favorite. He seems to be looking right at you.
    There is a saying "a picture is worth a thousand words." Mr. Skerry's photography and your art work bring many thoughts to mind about these wonderful creatures in their habitat.
    A hui hou,
    Mrs. Jacobs

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  4. Mrs. Yollis and class,

    It looked like you had a great time when you went to see Ocean Soul. You ocean art was very good. We are a group of third graders in Arizona that have been learning about different habitats. We started with our habitat-the Sonoran Desert. Do you know any facts about the Sonoran Desert? You can visit our blog to find out more about our "green" desert. We will soon begin learning about other habitats around the world. It will be great to see this blog post again when we learn about oceans. Thanks for sharing your ocean habitat.

    Fellow bloggers,
    Mrs. Fraher and Class

    ReplyDelete
  5. Dear Mrs Yollis and class,

    What a wonderful school trip you had I would have loved to have be going with you.

    What beautiful photo's Mr. Skerry took. Talk about magical for I really felt like I was under the ocean swimming with some of those sea animal.

    My husband does a lot of scuba diving and often he would say it is like a magical sea of colour and sea animals which we need to learn to respect.

    I loved all your beautiful ocean watercolours which you all did.

    This is a wonderful post seeing animals in their own environment with such depth in each and every photo.

    Thank you.

    From your pal down under,
    AA

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  6. What a great field trip - and beautiful mixed media pictures that you have been inspired to draw as a result of your experience. I love that little yellow gobi - it looks so vivid it could almost be plastic! I like the way some of you recreated that picture with your rusty cans! We have been finding out a bit more about the Atlantic in 'A Room with a View' as we follow four rowers on their challenge to cross the Atlantic Ocean from Tenerife to Barbados. Our oceans are incredible habitats. We love using our atlases and our class globe to discover where places are - but I would love one of those mega-maps that you have used even more! WOW! You are a very lucky class to have such experiences!
    Mrs M

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  7. Dear Students and Mrs. Yollis.
    I am a board member at the Broad Stage. I am so happy you were able to come to the Broad and see the incredible National Geographic presentation. Your blog is wonderful! Remember, you can come to the Broad whenever you like. It is your neighborhood theater!

    Jill Baldauf

    ReplyDelete

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