TUPELO, Miss. (WTVA) - It's something you don't see in a classroom every day.
We're talking about live sea creatures for students to touch and learn about.
Guests from Southern Miss in Hattiesburg and the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies in Gulfport brought the animals and artifacts to Tupelo Middle School students for them to learn about life in the Gulf of Mexico.
Science teacher Connie Gusmus said, "They're getting an opportunity to show the students and the students can ask questions about the animals."
The teacher says it's one thing to learn from a book about sharks teeth and other marine life, but it's another to see it in person.
Student Delmar Brown said, "It was fun because we got to interact with the animals and stuff."
Student Madison Burt said, "There are all kinds of sea creatures, especially this huge turtle I've never known about. I thought it was neat to see and touch it."
Student Lane Kellett said, "We talked about all the animals that are in the ocean like crabs. We got to touch them and it was really fun."
Besides just seeing all of this, the goal is to also educate students about protecting the marine habitat.
Chris Breazeal with the Institute for Marine Mammal Studies said, "A lot of people in the northern part of Mississippi don't realize what they do here affects us on the Gulf Coast. This session is trying to give the students an idea of what they do here does have an impact on the coastal environments."
The students will learn more about these animals in class over the coming weeks.
