Prepare your students for a field trip , classroom program at the Aquarium, or a traveling outreach program. Teacher booklets contain pre- and post-visit activities on a variety of subjects for students of all grades. All booklet activities are correlated to the Maryland State Voluntary Curriculum. While the teacher booklets are designed to complement Aquarium programs, they also work as stand-alone pieces in any classroom.

Adaptations (Grades 2-4)
The Adaptations Teacher Booklet will excite and engage your students in learning about how animals are adapted to living in water. The booklet contains information to help you plan and prepare for the Adaptations outreach program in your classroom.

Download Adaptations (Grades 2-4) (PDF)

Australian Animal Interview (Grades 1-2)
The Australian Animal Interview Teacher Booklet contains information about Australian reptiles, birds, and marsupials. Coloring sheets and pre-visit and post-visit activities engage students in learning about these animals. This booklet complements the Australian Animal Interview program.

Download Australian Animal Interview (Grades 1-2) (PDF)

Behind the Scenes (Grades 9-12)
The Behind the Scenes teacher booklet introduces students to the many facets of caring for, feeding and maintaining the Aquarium’s animals and exhibits. Appropriate for grades 9-12, the booklet also explores the role of aquaria and zoos in conservation education in our society. Complements the Behind the Scenes Aquarium classroom program.

Download Behind the Scenes (Grades 9-12) (PDF)

Boneless Bunch (Grades 1-3)
The Boneless Bunch teacher booklet for grades 1-3 introduces students to the fascinating world of marine invertebrates, animals without backbones. Group and individual activities encourage students to compare and contrast animals, and to use language arts and observation skills. Complements the Boneless Bunch Aquarium classroom program.

Download Boneless Bunch (Grades 1-3) (PDF)

Chesapeake Bay Explorations (Grades 4-8)
The Chesapeake Bay Explorations teacher booklet for grades 4-6 is a great introduction to one of the key species living in the Chesapeake Bay - the oyster. Learn how oysters help keep the Bay clean. Students investigate some solutions to the precipitous drop in oyster populations in recent years. Complements the Chesapeake Bay Explorations Aquarium classroom program.

Download Chesapeake Bay Explorations (Grades 4-8) (PDF)

Field Methods in Wetland Monitoring (Grades 9-12)
Field Methods in Wetland Monitoring at Ft. McHenry allows students to carry out scientific investigations on chemical, physical and biological parameters, assessing the overall health/condition of the wetland. Appropriate for grades 9-12, the booklet contains pre and post activities for teachers that complement the wetland field experience.

Download Field Methods in Wetland Monitoring (Grades 9-12) (PDF)

Hermit Crab and Whelk Animal Interview (Grades Pre-K and K)
The Hermit Crab and Whelk Teacher Booklet includes background information for the teachers on marine animals. It also includes coloring sheets, games and other activities to teach children about the animals they will see on a visit to the Aquarium. Complements the Hermit Crab and Whelk Animal Interview program at the Aquarium.

Download Hermit Crab and Whelk Animal Interview (Grades Pre-K and K) (PDF)

Horseshoe Crab Animal Interview (Grades Pre-K and K)
The Horseshoe Crab Animal Interview teacher booklet for grades preK - Kindergarten introduces students to the horseshoe crab. Group and individual activities engage students and prepare them for the Aquarium classroom program. Follow-up activities reinforce what students have learned and allow for fun and creativity. Students will use observation and listening skills while learning about the horseshoe crab. Complements the Horseshoe Crab Animal Interview Aquarium classroom program.

Download Horseshoe Crab Animal Interview (Grades Pre-K and K) (PDF)

Ocean Theme Day (Grades K-2, 3-4, 5-6)
Learn about sharks and other ocean animals including whales and marine invertebrates. The booklet contains pre- and post-activities for teachers that complement the Ocean Theme Day Traveling Outreach Program.

Download Ocean Theme Day (Grades K-2) (PDF)
Download Ocean Theme Day (Grades 3-4) (PDF)
Download Ocean Theme Day (Grades 5-6) (PDF)

Phylum Lab (Grades 9-12)
The Phylum Lab Teacher Booklet provides an overview of the eight major phyla or groups of animals. It also contains directions to students to build a phylum key. This tool will be used in the Phylum Lab Aquarium classroom program, and is a great learning tool for any Aquarium visit.

Download Phylum Lab (Grades 9-12) (PDF)

PLAY! The New Dolphin Show (Grades 6-12)
The dolphin show is an exciting program for every school visitor. The PLAY! Teacher Booklets for grades 6-8 and 9-12 provide teachers with multi-disciplinary, standards-based activities related to how animals learn through play. These booklets complement PLAY!, the New Dolphin Show."

Salinity Lab (Grades 3-5)
The mixing of fresh and salt water contributes to the biological productivity found in the Chesapeake Bay. In this programs students use math skills and scientific equipment to make their own brackish water of a certain salinity. Complements the Salinity Lab Traveling Outreach program at your school.

Download Salinity Lab (Grades 3-5) (PDF)

Shark Auditorium Presentation (Grades 1-2)
The Shark Auditorium Teacher Booklet prepares students and teachers for the presentation in the Aquarium's auditorium on sharks. The goal of the presentation is to dispel common misconceptions as you discover the characteristics that have helped sharks survive for millions of years.

Download Shark Auditorium Presentation (Grades 1-2) (PDF)

Slither, Slide, Creep and Crawl (Grades Pre-K and K)
The Slither, Slide, Creep and Crawl teacher Booklet introduces young children to ocean animals. Contains several fun activities for younger students. Complements the Slither, Slide, Creep and Crawl Traveling Outreach program at your school.

Download Slither, Slide, Creep and Crawl (Grades Pre-K and K) (PDF)

Squid Lab (Grades 6-12)
The Squid Lab teacher booklet provides an overview of squid and their relatives and includes directions to conduct a clam dissection in the classroom. Squid Jeopardy is a fun way to review concepts related to squid. Versions of the booklet are available for both the Aquarium-based lab and the classroom-based outreach lab.

Student Activity Guide (Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12)
Student Activity Guides provide pre and post visit activities plus activities to use while at the Aquarium for grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8 and 9-12. All the activities are correlated to the Maryland State Voluntary Curriculum.

Teacher’s Curriculum Guide (Grades Pre-K - 12)
The Teacher’s Curriculum Guide provides an overview of the Aquarium’s exhibits. This booklet prepares you and your chaperones for a successful and educational field trip. The guide is filled with information about the various animals and the various habitats in which they live. The guide also contains the Maryland State Voluntary Curriculum standards for grades Pre-K -12 as they correlate to the Aquarium field trip experience.

Download Teacher’s Curriculum Guide (Grades Pre-K - 12) (PDF)

Trash in a Marsh (Grades 4-6)
Pollution of all types, including trash, is a serious problem impacting the health of the Chesapeake Bay. Using maps, students trace how trash enters the Bay, analyze trash during the program at your school, and use math skills to graph their results. Complements the Trash in a Marsh Traveling Outreach Program at your school.

Download Trash in a Marsh (Grades 4-6) (PDF)

Waterman’s Lab (Grades 3-6)
The Waterman’s Lab introduces students to the tools used by people to harvest crabs, oysters and other animals from the Chesapeake Bay. The booklet contains student readings about oysters and crabs, and has an extensive vocabulary list. Complements the Waterman’s Lab Traveling Outreach Program at your school.

Download Waterman’s Lab (Grades 3-6) (PDF)