Aquarium Virtual Field Trip

An aquarium virtual field trip is a great way to engage students in STEM learning and expose them to marine biology, ecosystems, the interconnectedness of all life and more. Many aquariums have created online experiences that are designed for the classroom and based on specific grade levels and age groups.

The Monterey Bay Aquarium has a variety of online activities that allow families to explore exhibit galleries, take a class, meet an animal and more! Their activities are categorized by grade level and are also offered in Spanish. They have resources for both teachers and students that include hands-on activity kits, on-demand video content, worksheets, and more. The aquarium has several webcams that provide a unique perspective of the animals and habitats, including an open sea cam, a shark cam and a jellyfish webcam.

In their Animal Adaptations virtual experience, students will learn about how animals are designed for the environment they live in. They will be able to compare and contrast the different ways animals use oxygen, find food, seek shelter and more. They will also be able to see how the differences between animals in similar habitats help to explain why animal adaptations are necessary for survival.

If your students are fascinated by sharks, the Shedd Aquarium in Chicago has a virtual shark encounter for grades K-8. During this experience, students will be able to ask questions to an aquarium worker and even enter the habitats where the sharks live.

Another great aquarium virtual field trip is the National Aquarium in Washington, D.C. Their online experiences are curated for grades pre-K-12. Their Australia: Wild Extremes virtual field trip allows students to discover how animals adapt to survive in the seasonal extremes of Australian waters.

The Maritime Aquarium in Norwalk, Connecticut offers a number of online experiences for students and families. They have a great program called Lake Superior Ecology that allows students to explore the food chain and water quality of Lake Superior. It also discusses the importance of conservation and how we can make a difference in our natural environment.

There are a few online virtual field trip experiences that focus on specific species and ecosystems. For example, the Seattle Aquarium offers a program about the Puget Sound ecology that teaches students about the habitats and animal food chains in the area. They also have a program about the ocean and how we can protect it.

Other field trips are focused on certain aspects of the aquarium such as a stingray encounter or shark dive. Some are even virtual zoo tours, which is a great way to get kids interested in a specific species of animal without having to travel far from home.

These types of virtual field trip experiences can also be a fun way to support your students’ learning during the coronavirus pandemic. The best part is that they can be done from the comfort of your own home!