Fifth grade students from Mrs. D'Urso's at Medford Avenue Elementary School had an opportunity to explore Brookhaven Township's Fish Thicket Preserve, a one-hundred acre nature preserve located south of Woodside Avenue in Patchogue. Students observed and studied the nature and terrain of the Fish Thicket, noticing topography changes throughout the thicket as well as an abundance of living organisms. Many of our fifth graders wrote acrostic poems based upon their observations at the Fish Thicket. Enjoy reading some examples of student writing.
Fun all around.
In the night, nocturnal animals awake.
So much nature.
Hopefully the area of the Fish Thicket is growing.
Trees are everywhere.
High in the sky there are birds.
Immigrants used to live there.
Crickets chirp in the nighttime.
Keep away from poison ivy!
Even hornets share the trees.
The amount of life from there is uncountable.
-by Dylan Policano
Ferns growing from the ground.
Insects flying all around.
Smelling pine all the way.
Having fun all the way on the trail.
Touching lichen.
Holding the branches was awesome except when they hit you.
In the thickets was a wonderful experience.
Crouching under branches.
Kim having fun.
Enjoying the fresh air.
Trees high in the sky.
-Kimberly Jara
Falling leaves from the nearest oak.
Irresistable sight to see.
Slithering snakes going to their burrows.
Hollow trees for homes of squirrels.
The branches crunching under your feet.
Hard to get through the thorn maze.
Immigrants nesting in without permission.
Can you believe we did not see animals?
Kills me to see people littering.
Elements of surprise.
There was much poison ivy.
-Jared Remien
Fantasy, wood, adventure, exploration
I was so interesting to learn more about the wilderness.
Some immigrants littered in the Fish Thicket.
How many people do you think go to the Fish Thicket in a year?
The Fish Thicket had so many fabulous plants.
How come we didn’t explore the whole Fish Thicket?
I saw poison ivy there, at the Fish Thicket.
Can we ever go to the Fish Thicket again?
Kites wouldn’t be a good idea to fly at the Fish Thicket.
Exploring the Fish Thicket was fun.
The Fish Thicket would look really wonderful in the winter.
-by Oscar Rodas
Fumbling on branches.
Interesting facts about trees.
Small creatures scampering.
Holes in the ground.
Tree branches whacking people in the faces.
Holes in the trees made by animals.
Intriguing leaves and mushrooms.
Crumbling leaves as the class walks on them.
Kicking fallen leaves.
Exciting species of birds.
Truly a great trip to be on.
-by Areina Rosario
Mrs. D'Urso was News 12's Teacher of the Month last year and has received numerous awards. Her trip to the Fish Thicket goes along with her units on biodiversity and plants. She always manages to make time for science.
