Classroom Outreach

Do the Locomotion

Have you ever wanted to swim as fast as a sea lion, or jump as high as a dolphin? Animals have all kinds of interesting adaptations that allow them to get from one place to another, from penguins that walk on two feet to snakes that slither without any feet at all. Join us and learn about the different ways that animals move their bodies, and discover how animals in many different ecosystems are able to navigate their habitats.

Standards: SKP2b, SKP2a, APL5.2a, CD-SC3.1b

Turtle-y Awesome

Do you know the differences between turtles and tortoises? There are actually quite a few ways to tell. Each species has unique characteristics and diets that allow them to survive in their habitats. Swim on over (or walk on down) to discover all of the distinct and turtle-y awesome ways that these animals differ, and what we can do to protect these amazing creatures.

Standards: SKL2a, S3L1, K-ESS3-3

Riveting Reptiles

Reptiles can be found all over the world in a diverse range of habitats and climates, including rivers, oceans, lakes, and streams. These scaly creatures have a wide variety of appearances: from turtles with armor on their backs to snakes that navigate the world without any limbs.  Join us as we identify the characteristics and special adaptations of this diverse group of animals, and learn about some of the incredible reptiles found all around the world.

Standards: S3L1b, S5L1a, 3-LS4-3

Survival of the Fittest

Dive into the deep and discover what it takes to survive beneath the waves. From tiny plankton, to mighty whales, all aquatic life depends on a few key things to stay alive. These basic survival needs help us explore how creatures thrive in their habitats. Once we understand what plants and animals need, we can follow the flow of energy through aquatic food chains and food webs – and uncover the amazing ways everything is connected below the surface. Join us as we explore the foundations of aquatic ecosystems and the fascinating relationships that keep marine life in motion.

Standards: S1L1b, S4L1b, K-LS1-1, 5-PS3-1

Stepping into STEM

Enter into a world of possibilities as we explore the four pillars of STEM – Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics. Transform into a scientist, engineer, or inventor for a day and use each discipline to investigate the natural world and be inspired by its wonder. Today we’ll take a single step, but your STEM journey can last a lifetime.

Deep Sea “Aliens”

Have you ever wondered why some animals glow? Or why some fish have such large eyes? As you descend deeper into the ocean, the environments become more extreme and the creatures become more alien. Dive deep to explore how animals use their fascinating adaptations in order to survive the deep sea’s drastic changes in pressure, temperature, and sunlight.

Standards: SB5.e, S7L1.a, S8P2.d, MS-LS2-2

The Great Squid Race

When it comes to speed and motion, aquatic animals aren’t squidding around. Powered by Newton’s ink-redible laws of motion, these slippery cephalopods zoom through the ocean using jet-propulsion. A squid at rest will remain at rest, the more water a squid expels from its body the faster it will blast through the water, and for every jet of water there is a swift zoom in the opposite direction. Buckle up as we investigate how biology, physics, and squids collide.

Standards: S8P3.b, S8P3.c, SZ4.a, MS-PS2-2, HS-PS2-1

Overboard for Oceanography

What secrets are hiding in our ocean? There’s only one way to find out. Oceanographers study the chemical, physical, geological, and biological features of the ocean in an attempt to uncover answers to the ocean’s mysteries. Scientists and explorers alike have studied the ocean’s topography for centuries in order to properly navigate the seascape and discover new worlds. Step into the shoes of an oceanographer and investigate the wonders of the sea.

Standards: S6E3.c, S8P1.c, SB5.c, HS-ESS2-4, MS-ESS 3-5

Evolving Oceans

As the planet evolved from a fiery gas ball into the underwater world we know today, the ocean has gone through countless changes over the past 3.8 billion years. All life originated in the ocean, and all of the organisms we know today are descendants of ancient ancestors through evolutionary phenomena. Join us as we take a peek at modern ocean animals and discover how they’ve changed from their prehistoric relatives.

Standards: S7L5c, SB6b, SEV2c, HS-LS4-5, MS-LS4-1

ABC (Animal Behavior & Care)  

There is a lot of work that goes into maintaining a clean bill of health for the animals at Georgia Aquarium. Behavioral training and animal husbandry enable the animals to participate in their own healthcare while simultaneously strengthening the bond between the animals and their trainers. Explore how different training and enrichment techniques can help support animal behavior, care, and health at Georgia Aquarium. 

Standards: SZ5.a, S7L4.a, HS-LS2-8, AFNR-VS-8, AFNR-VS-11

Wild Waves

Ocean animals interact with waves all the time, but we’re not just talking about ocean waves. From sound to light to electromagnetism, many animals rely on the physics of waves to master the art of survival in their environment. Investigate the fascinating properties of the swells that shape our oceans and the world around us.

Standards: SP4d, S8P4a, MS-PS4-2, HS-PS4-1

All SySTEMs Go

STEM fields have helped us reach new depths in marine biology through the use of ROVs, or remotely operated vehicles. Explore how science, technology, engineering, and mathematics all work together to combat the challenges of the deep sea. From finding neutral buoyancy to building multifunctional attachments, experience what it takes to get all sySTEMs online in the amazing world of ROVs.