Virtual Youth and School Group Programs for Pre-K through Grade 12
Programs are available weekdays (Monday-Thursday), September 14, 2020, through June 11, 2021
Questions about program content? Contact us at birchaquariumedu@ucsd.edu.
Grades PreK-2 Grades 3-5 Grades 6-12
Grades PreK-2
Maximum Capacity:
- PreK: 16 students/program
- Grades K-2: 25 students/program
Start times: 9 a.m, 10 a.m.,11 a.m. or 1 p.m. (PT)
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $125/program
Animal Encounters: Rocky Seashore (PreK-2)
Meet three animals that make the tide pools their home. Students practice their observation skills and learn about animal adaptations and how those structures and behaviors help them survive in their habitat. (Animal availability varies and may include organisms such as: hermit crab, shore crab, sea anemone, sea cucumber, turban snail, and two-spot octopus.)
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: Structure, Function and Information Processing, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- SEP: Asking Questions, Constructing Explanations
- CCC: Structure and Function, Cause and Effect
Animal Encounters: Kelp Forest (PreK-2)
Observe three animals that make the kelp forest their home. Learn about their adaptations and how those structures and behaviors help them survive in their habitat. (Animal availability varies and may include organisms such as brittle stars, sea urchin, whelk, crab, horn or swell shark, etc.)
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: Structure, Function and Information Processing, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- SEP: Asking Questions, Constructing Explanations
- CCC: Structure and Function, Cause and Effect
Ask a Naturalist: Aquarium 101 (Grades K-2)
What is the biggest animal at the aquarium? Which animal moves the fastest? What is it like to work at an aquarium? During this question and answer session, students have the opportunity to ask an aquarium educator about our animals and aquarium careers. Teachers will have the opportunity to submit questions ahead of time.
Grades 3-5
Maximum Capacity: 36 students/program
Start times: 9 a.m, 10 a.m.,11 a.m. or 1 p.m. (PT)
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $125/program
Animal Encounters: Rocky Seashore (Grades 3-5)
Meet three animals that make the tide pools their home. Students practice their observation skills and learn about animal adaptations and how those structures and behaviors help them survive in their habitat. (Animal availability varies and may include organisms such as: hermit crab, shore crab, sea anemone, sea cucumber, turban snail, and two-spot octopus.)
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: Structure, Function and Information Processing, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- SEP: Asking Questions, Constructing Explanations
- CCC: Structure and Function, Cause and Effect
Animal Encounters: Kelp Forest (Grades 3-5)
Observe three animals that make the kelp forest their home. Learn about their adaptations and how those structures and behaviors help them survive in their habitat. (Animal availability varies and may include organisms such as brittle stars, sea urchin, whelk, crab, horn or swell shark, etc.)
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: Structure, Function and Information Processing, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- SEP: Asking Questions, Constructing Explanations
- CCC: Structure and Function, Cause and Effect
Ask a Naturalist: Stories Behind the Scenes (Grades 3-5)
During this question and answer session, engage with an aquarium naturalist to learn about animal husbandry and careers at the aquarium. Students dive deeper into our work and can ask their questions about our coral propagation, seahorse and seadragon breeding, and Research in Action projects during this program.
Ask a Naturalist: Protecting our Ocean Planet (Grades 3-5)
How do humans impact our ocean planet and how can we help? This program is your opportunity to ask our aquarium naturalists your questions about climate change, ocean acidification, and plastic pollution and learn about ways we can work together to help solve these challenges.
Sensational Sharks (Grade 4)
Discover the body structures that have helped sharks thrive in the ocean for millions of years. Students will explore data from local scientists to understand how these adaptations can impact shark behavior.
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: LS1.A. Structure and Function
- CCC: Cause and Effect, Structure and Function
- SEP: Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Constructing Explanations, Obtaining, and Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Grades 6-12
Maximum Capacity: 36 students/program
Start times: 9 a.m, 10 a.m.,11 a.m. or 1 p.m. (PT)
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $125/program
Animal Encounters: Rocky Seashore (Grades 6-12)
Meet three animals that make the tide pools their home. Students utilize their observation skills and learn about animal adaptations and how those structures and behaviors help them survive in their habitat. (Animal availability varies and may include organisms such as: hermit crab, shore crab, sea anemone, sea cucumber, turban snail, and two-spot octopus.)
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: Structure, Function and Information Processing, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- SEP: Asking Questions, Constructing Explanations
- CCC: Structure and Function, Cause and Effect
Animal Encounters: Kelp Forest (Grades 6-12)
Observe three animals that make the kelp forest their home. Learn about their adaptations and how those structures and behaviors help them survive in their habitat. (Animal availability varies and may include organisms such as brittle stars, sea urchin, whelk, crab, horn or swell shark, etc.)
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: Structure, Function and Information Processing, Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- SEP: Asking Questions, Constructing Explanations
- CCC: Structure and Function, Cause and Effect
Ask a Naturalist: Stories Behind the Scenes (Grades 6-12)
During this question and answer session, engage with an aquarium naturalist to learn about animal husbandry and careers at the aquarium. Students dive deeper into our work and can ask their questions about our coral propagation, seahorse and seadragon breeding, and Research in Action projects during this program.
Ask a Naturalist: Protecting our Ocean Planet (Grades 6-12)
How do humans impact our ocean planet and how can we help? This program is your opportunity to ask our aquarium naturalists your questions about climate change, ocean acidification, and plastic pollution and learn about ways we can work together to help solve these challenges.
Shark Science (Grades 6, 7)
For over 50 years, San Diego locals have observed the phenomenon of large numbers of leopard sharks gathering off of La Jolla. Students become scientists, as they explore this phenomenon and understand why sharks are our yearly visitors.
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: (Gr.6) LS1.B: Growth and Development of Organisms, (Gr. 7) LS2.A: Interdependent Relationships in Ecosystems
- CCC: Patterns, Cause and Effect, Structure and Function, Systems and System Models
- SEP: Engaging in Argument from Evidence, Obtaining, Evaluating and Communicating Information, Analyzing and Interpreting Data
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