Outreach Programs

National Aquarium - Field Trips

Bring the Aquarium to
Your School

Bring the fun of hands-on learning to your school with a National Aquarium traveling outreach program. These programs offer personal attention and close contact with Aquarium animals and artifacts, and also support the Maryland Voluntary State Curriculum.

Traveling outreach programs are available October 17, 2012–April 12, 2013.

Reservations for the 2012–2013 school year will be accepted beginning June 14, 2012 at 9 a.m., by phone only.

Fees vary for outreach programs. Please refer to the specific program descriptions below for information. Depending on your distance from the Aquarium, you may be charged a travel fee of $20–$100.

Classroom Programs

Preschool and Kindergarten

Slither, Slide, Creep, and Crawl: Ocean Animal Exploration
A box of props comes alive as students investigate how sea animals move, eat, and protect themselves. Students will also get an up-close look at some live ocean animals.
Curriculum 1A, 3A

Program Length: 30–45 minutes
Days Offered: Monday–Friday
Live Animal: Yes
Number of Students: Up to 25
Cost: $190 for first program; $100 for each additional program


Two Legs, Four Legs, Six Legs, More!
Animals use their legs in many ways. Some crawl, while others hop. Students will mimic animal locomotion and practice counting skills, using puppets and live animal interactions.
Curriculum 1A, 3A

Program Length: 30–45 minutes
Days Offered: Monday–Friday
Live Animal: Yes
Number of Students: Up to 25
Cost: $190 for first program; $100 for each additional program


Grades 1–12

Adaptations (Grades 1–4)
Students become detectives looking for clues on the "Creature Lab Coat" as they deduce how adaptations help animals survive.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3C

Program Length: 30–45 minutes
Days Offered: Monday–Friday
Live Animal: Yes
Number of Students:Up to 30
Cost: $190 for first program; $100 for each additional program


Bountiful Biomes (Grades 2–4)
Investigate biomes all over the world, ranging from the distant rain forests and deserts to the forests found just outside the schoolyard. Discover how animals use adaptations to survive in these very different places.
Curriculum 1A, 1B, 3A, 3F, 6B

Program Length: 60 minutes
Days Offered: Tuesday–Friday
Live Animal: Yes
Number of Students: Up to 30
Cost: $190 for first program; $100 for each additional program


Life in the Tropical Rain Forest (Grades 2–4)
Using costumes and puppets, students explore how plants, animals and indigenous people depend on each other to survive in the South American rain forest. Get up-close with living animals, rainforest products and artifacts.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3D, 3E, 3F, 6A, 6B

Program Length: 60 minutes
Days Offered: Tuesday–Friday
Live Animal: Yes
Number of Students: Up to 30
Cost: $190 for first program; $100 for each additional program


Chesapeake Bay Explorations (Grades 4–8)
Oysters are indicators of the Chesapeake Bay’s health. Test water samples, measure oysters, and draw conclusions about the state of the Bay.
Curriculum 1A, 1C, 2E, 3A, 3E, 3F, 6A, 6B

Program Length: 60 minutes
Days Offered: Monday–Friday
Live Animal: No
Number of Students: Up to 30
Cost: $190 for first program; $100 for each additional program


Squid Dissection Lab (Grades 5–12)
Investigate an unusual mollusk through discussion and dissection. Discover how form and function of the squid’s basic anatomy help this efficient predator survive in the ocean.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3D

Program Length: 60 minutes
Days Offered: Monday–Friday
Live Animal: No
Number of Students: Up to 30
Cost: $190 for first program; $100 for each additional program


Oyster Reef (Grades 4–6)
Explore the ecology of an oyster reef through this interactive theater program. Immerse yourself in this habitat as you learn about the Chesapeake Bay, oyster reef characteristics, food chains, and the oyster life cycle.
Curriculum 3A, 3F, 6A, 6B

Program Length: 60 minutes
Days Offered: Tuesday–Friday
Live Animal: No
Number of Students: Up to 30
Cost: $190 for first program; $100 for each additional program


Aquarium Careers (Grades 6–12)
From dolphin trainers to exhibit designers, aquarists to educators, the National Aquarium offers many career opportunities. Learn about different career paths, their requirements, and how to get started. This program connects to the Maryland Career Development Framework.

Program Length: 60 minutes
Days Offered: Monday–Friday
Live Animal: No
Number of Students: Up to 30
Cost: $190 for first program; $100 for each additional program

Auditorium Programs

Grades K–8

Shark Presentation (Grades K–8)
Sharks are not the fearsome eating machines portrayed in movies. Explore these unique creatures and their amazing survival adaptations, while dispelling myths about these toothy predators.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3D, 3E, 3F, 6B

Program Length: 60 minutes
Days Offered: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
Live Animal: No
Number of Students: Up to 300
Cost: $350 per program


Marine Mammals (Grades 3–8)
What mammals live in the ocean? Find out what it takes to survive underwater as you and your class discover this unusual and diverse group of mammals.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3D, 3F, 6B

Program Length: 60 minutes
Days Offered: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
Live Animal: No
Number of Students: Up to 300
Cost: $350 per program


Waterman Presentation (Grades 3–8)
Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the experiences of a waterman. Costumes, artifacts, and personal stories help students understand how the loss of habitat affects both animals and people.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3E, 3F, 6A, 6B

Program Length: 60 minutes
Days Offered: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
Live Animal: No
Number of Students: Up to 300
Cost: $350 per program


Rain Forest Presentation (Grades K–8)
Investigate plant and animal interactions and adaptations for survival in the South American rain forest. Discover the importance of this unique habitat, threats to its survival, and how to influence its future.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3D, 3E, 3F, 6A, 6B

Program Length: 60 minutes
Days Offered: Tuesday, Thursday, and Friday
Live Animal: No
Number of Students: Up to 300
Cost: $350 per program



Theme Days: Auditorium Presentations & Labs

A theme day is a great way to give classes in multiple grade levels the opportunity to participate in an outreach program. Each theme day includes:

  • Two auditorium presentations
  • Ten interactive discovery sessions that allow students to explore the theme in depth and to investigate animals introduced in the auditorium presentation. The 20-minute sessions are identical and each is limited to one class (of up to 30 students) to encourage optimal learning. Parent volunteers are required to assist with interactive discovery sessions.

Theme Day programs are available on Thursdays and Fridays and cost $790 per day. Additional discovery labs are $40 each, with a maximum of two additional labs. Half-day and extra lab days are available upon request.

Ocean Theme Day

Shark Presentation (Grades K–8)
Sharks are not the fearsome eating machines portrayed in movies. Explore these unique creatures and their amazing survival adaptations, while dispelling myths about these toothy predators.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3D, 3E, 3F, 6B

Marine Mammals (Grades 3–8)
What mammals live in the ocean? Find out what it takes to survive underwater as you and your class discover this unusual and diverse group of mammals.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3D, 3F, 6B

Discovery Lab
Students explore ocean life by examining shark jaws, a whale vertebra and baleen, shells, living animals, and much more.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3D, 3F, 6B


Chesapeake Bay Theme Day

Marshland Mystery Presentation (Grades K–2)
What animals can you find in the marsh, and what is happening to them? Investigate the animals of a marsh, how they live, and the challenges they face.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3E, 3F, 6A, 6B

Waterman Presentation (Grades 3–8)
Explore the Chesapeake Bay through the experiences of a waterman. Costumes, artifacts, and personal stories help students understand how the loss of habitat affects both animals and people.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3E, 3F, 6A, 6B

Discovery Lab
Examine the Chesapeake Bay through artifacts, basic science experiments, and living animals.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3E, 3F, 6A, 6B


Rain Forest Theme Day

Rain Forest Presentations (Grades K–8)
Investigate plant and animal interactions and adaptations for survival in the South American rain forest. Discover the importance of this unique habitat, threats to its survival, and how to influence its future.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3D, 3E, 3F, 6A, 6B

Discovery Lab
Students get up-close and personal with living animals, rain forest products, artifacts from indigenous people, and more.
Curriculum 1A, 3A, 3D, 3E, 3F, 6A, 6B


 

 

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