Virtual Youth and School Group Programs for Pre-K through Grade 12
Questions about program content? Contact us at birchaquariumedu@ucsd.edu.
Grades Pre-K-2 Grades 3-5 Grades 6-12
Grades Pre-K-2
Student Max:
Pre-K: 16 students
Grades K-2: 25 students
Start times: 8, 9, 10, or 11 a.m. PT & 1, 2, or 3 p.m. PT
Discovery Labs
Our interactive 45-minute programs encourage your students to think critically while exploring the ocean and the organisms that live there. These programs are eligible for Price Philanthropies supported financial aid.
Colossal Kelp
Grades: K,1
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $125
Description: Dive into the wonderful world of kelp as students learn about the kelp bed habitat and virtually meet the amazing critters that call this underwater forest habitat home.
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: LS1.C: Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms, ESS3.A: Natural Resources
- CCC: Structure and Function, Patterns
- SEP: Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Tide Pool Treasures
Grades: K, 1
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $125
Description: Students virtually explore the world of tide pools. Virtually meet tide pool creatures and learn how they find food, protect themselves, and move in this dynamic habitat.
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: LS1.C: Organization for Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms, ESS3.A: Natural Resources
- CCC: Patterns, Structure and Function
- SEP: Analyzing and Interpreting Data, Engaging in Argument from Evidence
Fascinating Fish
Grade: 1
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $125
Description: What makes a fish a fish? Through virtual activities and exploration of real fish, students will investigate the unique characteristics of fishes.
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: LS1.A: Structure and Function
- CCC: Patterns, Systems
- SEP: Constructing Explanations
Sandy Shores
Grade: 2
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $125
Description: How does water affect the sandy shore habitat? Students virtually explore what sand is made of, how it is created, and the animals that live in the sand.
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: LS4.D: Biodiversity and Humans, ESS2.A: Earth Materials
- CCC: Patterns, Cause and Effect, Structure and Function, Stability and Change
- SEP: Argument from Evidence, Constructing Explanations
Ask a Naturalist
Students engage in 30-minute question and answer sessions with aquarium educators and may submit questions in advance.
Ask a Naturalist: Aquarium 101
Grades: K-2
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $100
Description: 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.
Animal Encounters
Animal Encounters: Rocky Seashore
Grades: Pre-K-2
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $100
Description: 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: Pre-K-2
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $100
Description: 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
Grades 3-5
Student Max: 36
Start times: 8, 9, 10, or 11 a.m. PT & 1, 2, or 3 p.m. PT
Discovery Labs
Our interactive 45-minute programs encourage your students to think critically while exploring the ocean and the organisms that live there. These programs are eligible for Price Philanthropies supported financial aid.
Fish Diversity
Grades: 3,4
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $125
Description: Through virtual exploration of biofacts and specimens, students will develop an understanding of the roles that adaptations in body shape, coloration, and teeth play in enabling fish to survive in diverse habitats.
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: (Gr. 3) LS4.C: Adaptation, (Gr. 4) LS1.A: Structure and Function
- CCC: Patterns, Cause and Effect
- SEP: Constructing Explanations, Argument from Evidence
Sensational Sharks
Grade: 4
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $125
Description: 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
Creatures of the Kelp
Grades: 3, 5
Duration: 45 minutes
Price: $125
Description: Discover an underwater forest and its importance to marine organisms. How can changes in the environment affect this ecosystem?
NGSS Alignment:
- DCI: (Gr. 3) LS2.C Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience, (Gr. 4) LS2.C: Ecosystem Dynamics, Functioning, and Resilience, (Gr. 5) LS1.C: Matter and Energy Flow in Organisms
- CCC: Systems and System Models
- SEP: Developing Models, Analyzing and Interpreting Data
Animal Encounters
Animal Encounters: Rocky Seashore
Grades: 3-5
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $100
Description: 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
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $100
Description: 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
Ask a Naturalist: Stories Behind the Scenes
Grades: 3-5
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $100
Description: 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 30-minute program.
Ask a Naturalist: Protecting our Ocean Planet
Grades: 3-5
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $100
Description: 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.
Grades 6-12
Student Max: 36
Start times: 8, 9, 10, or 11 a.m. PT & 1, 2, or 3 p.m. PT
Discovery Labs
Our interactive 45-minute programs encourage your students to think critically while exploring the ocean and the organisms that live there. These programs are eligible for Price Philanthropies supported financial aid.
Shark Science
Grades: 6, 7
Duration: 45 min
Price: $125
Description: 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
Animal Encounters
Animal Encounters: Rocky Seashore
Grades: 6-12
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $100
Description: 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
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $100
Description: 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
Ask a Naturalist: Stories Behind the Scenes
Grades: 6-12
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $100
Description: 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 30-minute program.
Ask a Naturalist: Protecting our Ocean Planet
Grades: 6-12
Duration: 30 minutes
Price: $100
Description: 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.
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