We're Going to the Aquarium

The National Aquarium
US Department of Commerce Building
14th Street and Constitution Avenue N.W.
Washington, D.C. 20230
( 202) 482-2825 (Group Rates)

Instructional Unit:
The field trip will introduce and reinforce the understanding of sea life and aquatic animals by the students.

Curriculum Unit:
Grade K
Science

Objectives:
This sea life lesson plan will enable kindergarten student to:
1. Identify by name different types of fish.
2. Compare different fish by size, color, and shape.
3. Learn the name of one fish and draw that fish.
4. Illustrate a fish, or other form of sea life, on a large class mural.
5. Write and illustrate a page in our class book entitled We Visited the Aquarium.
6. Participate orally in a class discussion about the aquarium experience (ex-Can you answer one of the Aquarium questions?)
7. Participate in a variety of class activities (music, art, cooking) which reinforce the knowledge of sea life and water animals.

Pre-Visit Activities:
Read related stories such as Fish Story, by Robert Tallon.

On-Site Activities:
Tour the aquariums and ask list of questions prepared in advance.
Sample questions:
1. Which fish is called the giant of the ocean? (whale)
2. Which fish is one of the longest living fish? (Koi, reaching 200 years old)
3. Which fish swims upside down? (the upside down catfish)
4. Can a fish walk? (Yes, only the South American lung fish or "walking fish". This fish is able to breathe air and walk on land using limb like appendages)
5. How large is the Quayle lobster? (14 pounds)
6. Water Words at the Aquarium: Do you know what they mean?

stream
pond
lake
river
freshwater swamp
salt marsh
evolution
adaption
defense
respiration
feeding
color
movement
shape
transparency
camouflage

Follow-Up Activities:
Language Arts
1. Listen to stories about sea life and aquatic animals.
2. Make a group "story webbing" about the aquarium experience.
3. Write the name of one fish and draw that fish in its surroundings on a journal page.
4. Write a class book entitled We Visited the Aquarium in which each student writes and illustrates a page.
Aquarium Art
1. Decorate and cut out paper plate fish.
2. Make paper bag "at fish" puppets. use with newspapers. Secure the tail with a rubber band.
3. Trace a cut out starfish pattern. Add glue and sprinkle of cornmeal or sand for a rough texture
4. Paint a class sea life mural.
5. Using clay or playdough, form fish, turtles etc. of different shapes, sizes and color.
6. Illustrate aquatic animals using variety of media (fingerpaint, water colors, markers, crayons, chalk etc.)
Sealife Snack Ideas
1. Serve tuna on fish-shaped crackers
2. Serve goldfish crackers with milk
3. Math review: Make a school of 6 goldfish on your napkin. Make a set of 4 goldfish. How many fish do you have now?
4. Using fish-shaped cookie cutters, bake a school of cookies. Decorate with different colors, patterns of frosting, sprinkles and toppings.

Appendices:
None

Bibliography:
Books:
Lionni, Leo. Swimmy. Knopf, 1992.
Tallon, Robert. Fish Story. Henry Holt and Co., Inc., 1977.
Luenn, Nancy. Nessa's Fish. Aladdin Paperbacks, 1997.
Marshall, Janet Perry. My Camera at the Aquarium. Little Brown and Co., 1989.
Seuss, Dr. One Fish, Two Fish, Red Fish, Blue Fish. Random House, 1981.
Littledale, Freya. The Magic Fish (book and cassette). Scholastic Trade, 1989.

Music:
The Little Mermaid Original Motion Picture Soundtrack , Alan Menken (music), Howard Ashman (lyrics). Maggie Braeuer, August 1990.

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