WEEK 1:
We visited Swan Bay and met the scientists at the Discovery Centre. We learnt to handle crabs and use callipers and balances (for measuring their length and weight) and drew a map, took photos of the area, and recorded features of the crabs' habitat. We learnt how to use a key to classify crabs and determine their gender. We were told that we would study the main species, the Smooth Pebble crab, then talked about why it was important not to interfere with the crabs and their environment.

WEEK 2:
Our group was given an area. We had to find and measure all the Smooth Pebble crabs, record their sex, number of walking legs, celipeds and other features, mark where we found them on our maps, then let them go. We also identified and recorded other crabs, weather and tidal conditions.

WEEK 3:
We did a field survey (like Week 2) to test the hypotheses that 'Smooth Pebble crabs are found in all microhabitats', and that 'Soldier crabs are only found in the mud, and recorded our results.

WEEK 4:
First we did an experiment at the Discovery Centre to see whether crabs prefer pippies or prawns as food. Then we had to design and do an experiment to test the hypothesis that 'male Smooth Pebble crabs are not territorial in the presence of a female'. We will write up the reports for homework.

WEEK 5:
We put all our data from the survey together and analysed the results. We found that our hypotheses were supported, but that we were more likely to find Smooth Pebble crabs in the mud than anywhere else. Four of the Centre's female scientists spoke to us about their work and our possible future careers in science. They mentioned some careers I hadn't even thought of before. We started work on our final report, which we will present to the scientists at the Discovery Centre in four weeks, and the display for presentation night. We also have to report back to our science classes.