The Albatross Project

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The Albatross Project has become a favorite of the Tuscarora School sixth graders. The project is used in conjunction with a science unit in oceanography.

The Albatross project was developed at Wake Forest University and is an ongoing scientific research project at that university. The director of the project, Dave Anderson, has made the project very interesting and fun for students by explaining it on a level they can understand. For instance, he shows them the size of the albatross bird by comparing it to an average fifth grader and to Michael Jordan. These are comparisons children can understand. He has also sent out videos of information to participating schools so that the background information is readily available to teachers and students.The video is excellent and definitely geared towards elementary age or middle school age students.Even the background music suits that age level student!

The project actually tracks the albatrosses as they search for food for their nestlings between January and May each year. Students receive latitude and longitude readings tracking the locations of each of the bird on a daily or almost-daily basis. Maps and mileage calculators are available at the project web site.

Click here to go to the Albatross Project Web site.

*Photo credit: The Albatross Project Video, sponsored by the National Science Foundation and Wake Forest University.