PIC: X fish-running on page 1

Josie Barth, a fifth grader a Cape Elizabeth Middle School gazes upward towards the school of rainbow smelt congregated at the top of the 1,500 gallon cylindrical fish tank at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland. Cape students explored learning modules Wednesday and Thursday afternoon at the institute trying to solve the mystery of the “X fish.” For more pictures of the Cape students’ search for the “X fish,” see page 4.

Staff photo by Christy McKinnon

Pic: x fish 2-running on page 4

Cape Elizabeth fifth graders Zachary Handall and group member Marlo Dell’Aquila examine a mystery fish on one of the teaching modules at the Samuel L. Cohen Center for Interactive Learning at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland Wednesday afternoon.

Staff photo by Christy McKinnon

Pic x fish 3-running on page 4

With mystery fish in hand Marlo Dell’Aquila, left and Maddy Gears try to unlock the mystery of the “X fish” at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland Wednesday. Zachary Handall looks on. The Labventure program steers fifth and sixth graders statewide through an interactive marine science activity to uncover the identity of the mystery fish. The program is open to all Maine schools free of charge for either their fifth or sixth grade classes. The Gulf of Maine Research Institute anticipates that by 2008, 90 percent of fifth or sixth grade classes in the state will participate in the exercise.

Staff photo by Christy McKinnon

Josie Barth, a fifth grader a Cape Elizabeth Middle School gazes upward towards the school of rainbow smelt congregated at the top of the 1500 gallon cylindrical fish tank held at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland. Cape students explored learning modules Wednesday and Thursday afternoon at the institute trying to solve the mystery of the X fish.Cape Elizabeth fifth graders Zachary Handall and group member Marlo Dell’Aquila examine a mystery fish on one of the teaching modules at the Samuel L. Cohen Center for Interactive Learning at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland Wednesday afternoon. With mystery fish in hand Marlo Dell’Aquila, left and Maddy Gears try to unlock the mystery of the X fish at the Gulf of Maine Research Institute in Portland Wednesday. Zachary Handall looks on. The Labventure program steers fifth and sixth graders statewide through an interactive marine science activity to uncover the identity of the mystery fish. Students attend free of charge. GMRI anticipates that by 2008, 90 percent of fifth or sixth grade classes in the state will uncover the mystery.