Students participate in one of Birch Aquarium's school programs
Grades 7 to 12
Fish Lab 
From the outside-in, students will examine how fish are adapted to their marine environments. Dissection of a Pacific mackerel will provide in-depth investigation into the unique anatomy of fish.
Squid Dissection
Investigate the wild world of cephalopods by performing a squid dissection. Students will explore how squid move, eat, and protect themselves as well as practice important dissection skills.
Hanging by a Thread
Is it true what they say about safety in numbers? Discover the rich diversity of animals that make their home in the mussel clumps of the rocky shore. By dissecting a mussel clump, students will learn about the major invertebrate phyla in the ocean, how these animals are classified based on their unique characteristics, and how they depend on one another for survival.
Life Without Light
What lives at the bottom of the sea? In “Life without Light”
students will embark on a deep-sea exploration along recently
discovered hydrothermal vents. Using land-based processes such as
photosynthesis, respiration, and nutrient cycles as a comparison base,
this class introduces the unique processes of deep-sea systems,
highlighting Scripps research at vents.
Science of the Sea
So you want to be an oceanographer? Find out if you’re made of the right stuff by performing experiments similar to those that oceanographers conduct every day. Students will explore the physics of the sea, sampling and exploration techniques, as well as possible careers in this exciting field.
Aquarium Explorations
Climate Challenge
It’s an undisputed fact: climate change is happening NOW. Step up to the challenging task of not only investigating the major causes of climate change, but grappling with solutions to slow these changes. Students will engage in hands-on activities as well as friendly debates as they explore the challenges scientists, policy makers, and individuals face when addressing this important issue.
Self-Guided Visit
Discover an ocean full of adventure at Birch Aquarium. Lead your classes along the Pacific coast and explore the exhibits of cool northern waters all the way down to tropical coral reefs in Baja, Mexico. Make sure to stop by the tide-pool plaza, the outdoor shark display, and Wonders of Water and Feeling the Heat: The Climate Challenge exhibits.
Beach Teach
Explore the Ecological Preserve of La Jolla Shores beach in this fun, hands-on field science program. Each program is customized based on tide and weather conditions, and student grade level. Please call for available dates. Please call for available dates.
Choose from:
BEACH INVESTIGATION (subject to tides)
Using clues found right under their toes, students will learn about the life surrounding the sandy beach. Participants will dig in the sand to understand how animals use their adaptations to survive in this changing environment. They also will learn about the local kelp forests and its residents and explore how sand is made, what it is made of, and how it gets to our beaches.
TIDEPOOLING (subject to tides)
Life in the tide pools is no day at the beach! Students will learn about life on the rocky shore and the special adaptations needed to survive in this harsh environment. They’ll also take a sneak peek at how animals move, camouflage, find food, and hold on in the tide pools.
