Go with the glow

April Bidwell's students are journeying to the twilight zone, and the Florida Association of Science Teachers are paying their traveling expenses.

In November, Wewahitchka Elementary School science teacher April Bidwell received a $500 FAST mini-grant at the association's annual meeting in Ft. Lauderdale.

She will use the cash to purchase materials for an innovative unit on bioluminescence.

Bioluminescence is an adaptation that allows animals to thrive in the ocean's darkest depths, sometimes referred to as the "twilight zone," or "the abyss."

Creatures such as angler fish, shrimp, tubeworms and squid use chemicals within their bodies to generate their own light.

The grant will allow Bidwell's students to experience life in the twilight zone.

Students will learn how the creatures' adaptations allow them to see, find food, attract a mate and defend themselves from underwater bullies.

Bidwell's classroom will then get a twilight zone makeover. With the lights out and a purple light bulb as the only source of illumination, the students will create their own bioluminescent creatures using neon highlighters.

They will name the creatures, define their characteristics and construct a method for underwater signaling using glow sticks.

Wearing T-shirts adorned with neon glow paint, the students will act out the signals using the glow sticks, varying the speed and motion for acts such as warning others of danger, attracting a mate and scaring away predators.

An overhead disco ball will pick up the lights from the glow sticks, adding another level of realism.

"The twilight layer is actually like a light show from these animals," explained Bidwell, who first attempted the project last year.

The grant will allow Bidwell to purchase 300 glow sticks, a disco ball, glow in the dark paint and beakers for glow stick experiments.

The project encourages cooperation, something essential in the twilight zone.

"These animals work together. They communicate with each other to let them know there's danger around or to find a mate because it's so hard to find a mate down there," said Bidwell.

Last year, the project was a class favorite. Bidwell expects similar excitement when she breaks out the glow sticks for a second time.

"This is a lot of fun because it's something children don't know a lot about in the fifth grade," she said.