Homeschoolers – Day 1

Today we had a number of homeschoolers visit the aquarium for the morning. The students were divided into three groups based on their grade level and each group conducted an age appropriate activity in the lab.  When not in the lab the students watched a movie in the theatre about the deep sea, watched the seal feeding, and explored the aquarium. 
 
While in the lab the Kindergarten to Grade 2 students worked on a program called Sensational Animals where we explored our sense of touch using the live animals.  The students touched sea stars, sea peaches, sand dollars, sea urchins, an anemone, a skate egg case, a sea cucumber, and a moon snail.  Some of the animals were rough and prickly, some were soft and smooth, and the moon snail was just slimy!  Then the students made a textured craft depicting the ocean floor to take home.
 
The Grade 3-5 students explored how animals survive in the deep sea.  We played 3D Ocean Bingo to learn about the different levels of the ocean, discussed why it is difficult to live in the deep ocean and adaptations that animals have to survive in that harsh environment (teeth so big you can’t even close your mouth or you would poke out your eyes!), and then made a glow in the dark picture to depict bioluminescence in deep ocean creatures.
 
Students in the Grade 6-8 group bundled up and headed out to the beach with me to explore what creatures call this place home.  We discussed why it is difficult to live in the intertidal zone and how animals cope when the tide goes out.  While on the beach we found lots of periwinkles and some sideswimmers hiding under the rocks and seaweed.                    
 
It was a good morning and we look forward to having the homeschoolers back in a couple of weeks for more fun programs!

Mini touch tank for the K-2 students.

Exploring bioluminescence through art.

Having fun in the touch tank!

Who put that hole in the periwinkle shell?