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Aquarium of the Pacific
www.aquariumofpacific.org
Organization Type:
Non-Profit
Mission:
To instill a sense of wonder, respect, and stewardship for the Pacific Ocean, its inhabitants,
and its ecosystems by involving the community and the region in engaging, entertaining,
educational, and empowering exhibits and programs on the Pacific Ocean and the lives of
its people.
Contact:
David Bader, School Programs Manager
Aquarium of the Pacific
100 Aquarium Way
Long Beach, CA 90802
Phone: (562) 951-1633
Fax: (562) 951-3192
aquariumofpacific@lbaop.org
Geographical Focus:
International
Counties Served:
Los Angeles, Orange, Riverside, San Bernardino, San Diego
Activities:
Education, Recycling, Conservation, Tourism
Topic:
Wetlands, Cultural History, Kelp Forest, Islands, Beaches, Rocky Intertidal, Wildlife, Watershed Hydrology, Endangered Species, Water Quality/Storm Water Runoff, Bay & Estuary Habitats, Open Ocean/Oceanography
Educational Resources:
Curriculum, Activity/Learning Kit, Outreach Programs, On-Site Programs, Guided Walks, Field Trips, Publications, Newsletter, Brochures, Exhibits/Display, Multimedia, Website, Speaker/Lecture Series
Education Programs:
For these programs, contact the Reservation Hotline at (562) 951-1630.
Pre-Kindergarten-K
- Under the Sea Shapes: Children will find shapes and colors that are hiding in sharks, sea anemones and many more ocean creatures! Designed especially for preschool and daycare groups.
- Friends in the Sea, Are You Like Me?: Follow Gracie, a baby gray whale, in search of animals that are just like her. Students will use sound, movement and observations to discover some of the animals that make the ocean their home.
- Animal Exploration: After a brief introduction, students will explore the unique characteristics of our classroom tidepool animals and even have a chance to touch them.
K-2 Grade Programs
- The Story of Splashy: Help our imaginary friend Splashy protect herself from Snaggletooth by changing her shape, size and color and giving her all sorts of special adaptations. Meet real ocean animals that use the same adaptations you give Splashy in this interactive program.
- Wigglie Squigglies: Join us as we examine jiggling jellies, spiny sea stars, and the eight-legged octopus, just a few of the many invertebrates that call the Pacific home. By taking part in exciting activities, students will discover how some of these spineless creatures adapt to their watery world.
- Scales to Fish Tails: Through a variety of "fintastic" hands-on activities, participants will dive into the watery world of fish and learn what a fish is, where fish live and how they adapt to their unique environment.
- Sharky's Adventure: Join Sharky as he goes on an adventure to learn what sharks eat, how they find their food and what their skin feels like in this exciting class.
- Rumbly Tumbly Tidepools: Join us as we build a tidepool and discover just how many spineless creatures call the tide pool their home.
- Coral Reef Critters: In this hands-on and interactive class, students will become reef animals and learn about what it takes to survive among the corals.
Grades 1-2
- Ocean Rangers: Marine Mammal Mystery: After learning about marine mammals, students are enlisted by training officer Sergeant Sargo and track a mysterious group of marine mammals along their migration route.
Grades 3-5
- Predator!: Dive headfirst into the world of predators in this interactive program. Students will go into a frenzy touching a real shark as they dispel some of the myths of this world-famous predator.
- Flippers, Fins and Flukes: Students will delve into the realm of cetaceans as they discover some of the unique adaptations and behaviors of dolphins and whales through a variety of activities and games.
- Kelp Forest Explorer: Students will explore how kelp forests play an important role in the coastal California marine environment by participating in fascinating activities and games.
- Aliens From Inner Space: Join us as we discover the fascinating world of plankton. Through hands-on activities and microscope discovery we will reveal the importance of this alien world to your students.
- Superheroes of the Sea: Students will discover which animals are the fastest, largest, smallest and most endangered in the ocean, while participating in an interactive game full of amazing animals and explore the watery world full of invertebrates, bony fish, whales, and sharks!
- FBI Investigates Freaky Fish: Join the FBI (Fish Bureau of Investigation) as they discover the diversity and range of Pacific Ocean fish.
- Ocean Rangers: Shark Mythbusters!: Students will follow sharks into their ocean habitat to learn the truth and dispel the myths surrounding these incredible predators. Through investigation, problem solving and interviews with experts, students will help to identify the mystery shark and find out what we can do to protect it and its relatives.
Grades 6-8
- Wet and Wild: Through a series of hands-on activities, students will investigate the properties of ocean water and how they affect marine creatures.
- It All Flows to the Ocean: Explore many of the things that we can do to help put pollution in its place. We will investigate Pacific pollution and the inter-relationships between pollution and animals.
- Spectacular Sharks: Join us as we dispel myths and discover what makes sharks one of the top predators in the ocean. From their six amazing senses to hundreds of sharp teeth, there is much to be learned!
- Making Waves: This program combines hands-on experiments, video components and engaging discussions to learn about the physics of light and sound in the sea.
- Mysteries of the Deep: The deep sea is full of life, enough to rival the diversity of a rain forest! Ranging from the ferocious teeth of the viper eel to the eerie glow of the bioluminescent flashlight fish, this class will fascinate you as we unlock the mysteries of the deep.
- Aqua-Cranium: Inspired by the board game "Cranium", students will find themselves immersed in a local marine food chain. This class will encourage students to use their artistic, theatrical and intellectual talents as they work in groups to make their way around the Aqua-Cranium board to the finish.
- Fishial Pursuit: Join us for an interactive educational theater program where the audience members are the game show contestants and the questions are all washed up.
- It All Flows to Me: By exploring the link between watersheds, ground water and pollution, students will learn how they are part of the water cycle and discover how they can help to change their environment for the better.
Grades 9-12
- A Look Inside: Choose from squid or fish and make your first incision into the amazing world of aquatic anatomy. Your students will discover the ins and outs of these interesting ocean animals in this hands-on dissection.
- Aquacology: By building their own aquarium systems complete with filtration and live animals, students will discover the importance of water quality and what it takes to keep water suitable to support life.
- Tidepool Ecology: Discover how some animals have adapted to the tidepool environment and how scientists study the marine life in this densely populated habitat.
- Career Smarts: Your students will participate in an interactive game show that focuses on marine-related careers.
- AP Biology Lab: Dissolved Oxygen: Through this hands-on laboratory session, students will develop and test a hypothesis regarding dissolved oxygen levels in the harbor adjacent to the aquarium. Students will collect water samples at varying depths and analyze them for dissolved oxygen content. Special rates and times apply. Contact Reservation Hotline at (562) 951-1630.
- AP Environmental Science Lab: Finding a Balance: In this hands-on laboratory exercise students will take the role of environmental scientists by collecting data from the Port of Long Beach using oceanographic equipment such as sediment grabs, secchi disks, plankton nets, and water samplers. Students will also analyze a real life example of proposed port development and make decisions on how to balance the resulting environmental and economic impacts. Special rates and times apply. Contact Reservation Hotline at (562) 951-1630.
Sleepovers
All sleepover programs include a pizza dinner, cereal breakfast, and an AOP Sleepover t-shirt. Programs run from 5:30pm to 7am. A minimum of 20 students is required.
- Grades 3-5: Predator, Prey and Pajamas
This unique program helps you take a bite out of some predator myths as we investigate the creatures of the deep blue sea.
- Grades 3-5: Spotlight on Sharks!
Our shark experts will help dispel some of the myths that have given sharks such a bad reputation and reveal their role in the food web.
- Grades 3-5: Crazy Creature from Dusk till Dawn
Participants will explore animal adaptations from tiny boneless wonders to the top of the food chain while learning about the unique relationships and habitats of these ocean critters.
- Grades 6-8: The Reef that Never Sleeps
Find out who is lurking past bedtime as we explore some of the ocean's best nightlife. From the colorful coral reef to the abyssal trenches of the deep ocean, your students will discover ingenious ways animals interact in the dark.
- Grades 6-8: Oceans of Opportunity
Find out what it takes to enter the field of marine biology, through hands-on activities and behind-the-scenes observations at the Aquarium.
Aquarium on Wheels
Aquaium educators come to you, bringing a mobile tide pool exhibit. Auditorium programs for 50-150 students, classroom programs for 15-40 students.
- PreK-K Auditorium Program: Under Sea Shapes
In this interactive educator and video-led program, children will match ocean animals to their shapes and learn to find shapes that are hiding in sharks, sea anemones and many more ocean creatures!
- K-8 Grade Auditorium Program: Pacific Journeys
Your students will participate in an interactive presentation to learn about ocean inhabitants and their unique adaptations for survival in a water world.
- K-2 Classroom Program: Amazing Animal Adaptations
Discover the wonderful world of animal adaptations through demonstrations and hands-on experiences with live animals.
- 3-5 Grade Classroom Program: Predators on the Prowl
Your students will delve into the world of ocean predators while discovering facts and dispelling myths. Sharks, whales, seals and otters are just some of the predators that your students will discover in this exploratory class.
- 6-8 Grade Classroom Program: Food Web Frenzy
Learn the importance of an animal's position in the ocean's food web through interactive exploratory class time.
- 9-12 Grade Classroom Program: Aquacology on the Road
By building their own aquarium systems complete with filtration and live animals, students will discover the importance of water quality and what it takes to keep water suitable to support life.
Target Audiences:
K-12, Adult, Teacher, Non-Formal Educator, General Public
In-Service Training:
Teachers, Docents/Volunteers, Students/Interns, General Public
We offer teacher in-services, volunteer and intern opportunities involving training and programs for the general public.
Volunteer Opportunities
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