Aquarium of the Bay today announced that its free educational programs were attended by a record-breaking 13,000 Bay Area K-12 students and teachers during the 2006-07 school year. Since opening in 1996, the Aquarium has hosted complimentary on-site educational events for over a 100,000 local school children and educators.
Starting today, educators in local school districts can sign up to take advantage of the Aquarium's complimentary 2007-08 school year program, which includes curriculum-based classes, naturalist-guided tours and self-guided tours. The Aquarium also provides free-of-charge teacher workshops, lesson plans and other resources aimed at helping educators strengthen their knowledge of San Francisco Bay biology and ecology.
"Aquarium of the Bay focuses on providing learning experiences that go way beyond what is possible in the classroom, encouraging students to really get to know the San Francisco Bay," stated Carrie Chen, Education Director at Aquarium of the Bay. "Most importantly, we provide these experiences for free."
Aquarium of the Bay's classes focus on inquiry-based, hands-on learning experiences designed around scientific activities, games and a guided tour through the Aquarium. The structure and content of classes -- which cover the incredible variety of marine life in the San Francisco Bay, as well as the distinctive ecosystem of the Bay and surrounding waters -- is modified to meet the different needs of students in grades K-12.
Educators who participated in the 2006-07 program were enthusiastic about its benefits. "Hands-on learning helps children to remember what is being taught. Being able to touch and hold things was what my students will remember about today," commented Kevin Shinoda, who teaches third grade at Ruus Elementary School in Hayward. Rosina Tong, who brought a first grade class from Sutro Elementary School in San Francisco to the Aquarium, noted, "The entire tour and program was very well planned. Each component was hands-on and educational with great classroom lectures and activity that got the students moving and learning at the same time."
Information on how educators can sign up for class visits and teacher workshops is available in the education section of the Aquarium's website at http://www.aquariumofthebay.com/
