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A group of elementary students sit on the floor, leaning in to collaborate on a digital lesson displayed on a tablet held by one of the young students

Grades 3-5 Virtual Tide Talks

When

Tues. and Thurs. during school year
9:15 a.m. and 10:30 a.m. PT

Length

25 minutes

Location

Zoom

Grades

3–5

Fees

Free

Give your class a virtual Aquarium experience! Take your students on a journey into ocean science with a Virtual Tide Talks program! Aquarium educators lead this 25-minute live interactive Zoom presentation focusing on a marine or conservation topic.

Group information

Minimum 15 students, maximum 96 students per live session

  • One program per classroom may be reserved per school year.
  • The lead teacher must participate in the entire session.
  • Up to three classrooms from the same school can join a single session.

Requirements

At this time, we are unable to offer programs on online learning software other than Zoom. The class should be prepared to join an Aquarium Zoom link.

  • The teacher will need a webcam, wifi and Zoom installed on their device. Webcam will need to be facing the class.
  • The lead teacher will receive an email 2 weeks prior to their scheduled program with detailed instructions on how to participate.

Program topic

Sharks: The Real Story

Sharks, are they frightening or fascinating? In this 25-minute interactive Zoom presentation, an Aquarium educator will give you the “real story” and share some behind-the-scenes footage of the Aquarium’s work with sharks. We will also look at the world’s great diversity of sharks, learn about different sharks we exhibit here at the Aquarium, and hear about current shark research. By the end, you’ll be able to share a shark’s “real story” with everyone back home.

Next Generation Science Standards

  • Science and Engineering Practices
    • Constructing Explanations and Designing Solutions
  • Disciplinary Core Ideas
    • Supports LS1.A
  • Crosscutting Concepts
    • Structure and Function

Tips for Virtual Tide Talks

How to prepare

Zoom link delivery: Two weeks before your program, you'll receive an email containing your Zoom link.

Program day log-in: On the day of your program, please log in to Zoom 10 minutes early to ensure smooth connectivity. This allows time for any troubleshooting, and we can chat briefly before starting. You'll be sent to an online waiting room until your lab begins, but you will be able to test your camera, microphone and speakers from the waiting room. As the classroom teacher, you'll be granted co-host permissions for the duration of the program.

Presentation method: The recommended delivery method for this program is presenting to the whole class from the front of the room. When presenting from the front of the room, please position a webcam to face the class.

Additional participants: Please note that additional adults and siblings are not encouraged to participate.

Booking your field trip

  • Select Book your field trip on our field trips webpage.
  • Create an account or log into an existing account.
  • Enter your group size and select your grade band to view our availability.
  • Select your preferred program and date from the listed options.
  • Complete the requested information and submit your booking.
  • Visit our Educator account FAQs for more specific information about booking.