At the head of the class in marine science

Shauneen Giudice, winner of Delaware’s 2004 Governor’s Marine Science Teacher-of-the-Year Award, fully understands the value of educating students about the marine environment. And, she knows how to do that in a way that captures the interest of the approximately 180 students she teaches over the course of a day.

The Governor’s Marine Science Teacher-of-the-Year Award was established in 2001 by the Delaware Sea Grant College Program, in partnership with the Office of the Governor, to acknowledge the critical importance of educating students in kindergarten through 12th grade about the ocean and coast. The award recognizes an outstanding Delaware teacher who demonstrates a strong commitment to educating students about marine and coastal resources—resources that Giudice calls a vital part of our heritage and future.

“I was thrilled to receive the award,” she says. “I had just returned home from spending the weekend counting horseshoe crabs [in Delaware Sea Grant’s annual horseshoe crab census], and the letter was waiting for me. It was a wonderful way to end the weekend.”

Giudice, who teaches seventh-grade science at Delmar Middle and High School in Delmar, Del., says she engages her students in becoming “ambassadors for the marine environment” and, at the same time, imparts both the joy of learning and the joy of teaching to her students.

In “Science-in-a-Box,” her students design science lessons for elementary students, on such topics as aquatic creatures, the water cycle, wetlands and the wonders of water. The students pack their lessons in a box and, with the support of elementary teachers, present them to students in first through fifth grades.

It was just this type of innovative approach that earned Giudice the teaching award. Judges from the Governor’s Office, the Delaware Department of Education and the Delaware Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control selected Giudice, based on her creative and innovative lesson plans, quality of teaching and impact on students.

The award comes with an all-expenses-paid trip to the annual National Marine Educators Association Conference, the largest meeting of marine educators in the world.

“It’s both satisfying and a challenge to relate to the kids and to figure out ways to put together a lesson,” says Giudice, who has a master’s degree in marine estuarine environmental science and a bachelor’s degree in biology from the University of Maryland in addition to her teaching certification. “I don’t think I’m a natural. I have to work really hard thinking of creative ways to put a lesson together or to try and make an activity work, but the satisfaction comes when you see kids responding.”

In addition to “Science-in-a-Box,” Giudice has developed several other hands-on activities and projects to teach her students about the marine environment. “Wildcat Wetlands” is a project that not only teaches the importance of wetlands but also incorporates science, math and language arts in the process.

In this project, Giudice asks her students to design, implement and maintain a native plant habitat that surrounds a stormwater retention pond located on the school grounds. The students conduct research to determine which plants will improve the water quality and functionality of the pond. Then, they write and submit proposals to the Chesapeake Bay Foundation for grants that will provide funding to purchase the plants and materials.

“Shauneen Giudice goes above and beyond the call of duty to help her students achieve their full potential,” Gov. Ruth Ann Minner wrote in the letter honoring Giudice with the award.

Carolyn Thoroughgood, former dean of the College of Marine Studies and director of Delaware’s Sea Grant College Program and now UD’s vice provost for research, also praises Giudice for her many accomplishments.

“Shauneen Giudice inspires in her students a true passion for learning about the fascinating world of our oceans and coasts,” Thoroughgood says. “This interest in the marine environment and its stewardship is destined to continue throughout a lifetime.”

Giudice’s dedication to her students doesn’t stop when school ends. Since 2000, she has organized an environmental club, Junior Earthwatch, which gives interested students the opportunity to explore different aspects of the coastal ecology during the summer. The students have helped with projects to count migratory waterfowl and assess water quality. Last summer, the club began collecting oral histories from individuals whose work is related to the water.

“I think that students—students of any age—need to find some sort of personal reward or see a reason for what they are doing,” Giudice says. “And, I don’t think that kids always see that reason when they are taking science in middle school. They might be interested in some topics, but other things seem pretty remote.”

As the Governor’s Marine Science Teacher of the Year, Giudice also participated in Coast Day in October, an annual educational festival, sponsored by the Delaware Sea Grant College Program and the College.

“Kids love the ocean,” Giudice says. “That’s not to say they really want to study oceanography or physical processes, but they like marine animals and the water. They’re fascinated by it. We need to nurture and develop that interest so that, as adults, they will be more responsible stewards of our coastal resources.”

—Kari K. Gulbrandsen, EG ’91M