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Virtual Tours and Field Trips
Bring the sea to your screen with free virtual tours and virtual field trips for K-12 students! We offer 2 types of virtual field trips to meet the needs of different learning styles and group configurations. Our virtual field trip options include: (1) include a walking tour of the aquarium with an aquarium educator via Zoom or (2) a pre-recorded video along with printable activities and the option to follow up the video with a Zoom Q&A session with an aquarium educator.
ABout
Our new virtual tours will allow you and your students to Zoom with education staff while we walk you through some of the aquarium’s most popular exhibits including: our newest exhibit, the Secret World of the Octopus, as well as our sea turtle exhibit, our Polynesian Reef, and the world’s largest collection of bull sharks!
details and Eligibility
- Appropriate for K-12 students and mixed age groups
- Lasts 20-30 min (depending on student age/engagement)
- Available for groups with 15+ students*
- Offered Monday/Friday at 9:00 a.m. or 9:30 a.m.
- FREE with support from our generous donors!
*Homeschool students and EPIC charter students may participate in virtual field trips with Q&A sessions (see "Video with Q&A Session" tab above).
HOw to register
Step 1: Choose a date for your Zoom tour. Please note that virtual tours are available on Mondays and Fridays at 9:00 a.m. or 9:30 a.m.
Step 2: Register here*
*EPIC Charter students and groups with fewer than 15 students are not currently eligible for virtual tours; however, if you are an EPIC student or have fewer than 15 students, you may still request a virtual field trip video and/Q&A session (see tab).
ABOUT
Virtual field trip videos and accompanying activities are designed to meet Oklahoma Academic Science Standards for K-12 students. Educators will receive a video program (see descriptions below) along with accompanying printable activities, and the option to follow up with a Zoom Q&A session led by an aquarium educator.
Details and Elgibility
- Appropriate for K-12 students with any class size
- Can be done from one classroom or multiple devices
- Provided FREE with support from our Fish Friends Scholarship Fund*
- Includes a pre-recorded video (unlimited viewing), printable activities, and the option for Zoom Q&A (no additional cost).
- Zoom Q&A Sessions offered Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 9:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 10:15 a.m.
- Does not include tour or live footage of the aquarium.
*EPIC Charter students receive support from EPIC's Learning Fund. See "EPIC Charter Students" tab above for more details.
How to register
Step 1: Choose the appropriate video program for your group's age (see descriptions below). If you have multiple age groups and therefor need multiple videos, please submit a separate form for each age group.
Step 2 (optional)*: Choose a date for your Zoom Q&A session based on when you intend to watch your video.
Step 3: Register here! Please allow up to 5 business days to receive your virtual materials.
*If you do not wish to participate in a Q&A session, you may request the video with accompanying activity sheets only.
Video descriptions and Zoom Q&A's
TURTLE TIME (K-3RD)
Learn all about turtles from Oklahoma to the ocean! We will compare and contrast different types of turtles, their habitats, diets, and adaptations.
INTO THE ECOZONE (4TH-6TH)
In this virtual lesson, students will learn about ocean habitats that serve as nurseries and the incredible animals who inhabit them. Habitats covered include tide pools, kelp forests, marshes, mangrove forests, and coral reefs.
THE INSIDE STORY! VIRTUAL BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR (7TH-12TH)
Go behind-the-scenes with aquarium staff and learn about the ways we care for animals and our enclosed ocean. Students will learn about how we apply the scientific method to conserve our coral reefs and how everyone can take part in conservation efforts to save sea turtles, sharks, and corals. Students will also learn about the design of our tanks and filtration systems to provide the optimal care for our animals.
ZOOM Q&A SESSION
Want to hear from the experts? Give your students the opportunity to ask questions about the video program by speaking directly with our Education Staff in a Zoom Q&A session! Zoom sessions are offered Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 9:15 a.m., 9:45 a.m., and 10:15 a.m. and last 20-30 minutes, depending on student age and engagement.
Due to space limitations, your group may be combined into a Zoom session with a group from another school. If you wish to participate in the same Zoom session as another teacher from your school, you may request to do so in the online registration form.
The Zoom Q&A session is intended to be a follow-up to the video program; there is not a tour or live footage of the aquarium.
We strongly recommend preparing questions ahead of time.
Yes, we are Certified EPIC Vendors!
Registered EPIC students can use the Learning Fund to receive a virtual field trip video with downloadable activities and the option to Zoom with our education staff for Q&A session about the video. We are not able to offer virtual tours to EPIC groups (or other groups) with fewer than 15 student participants.
Details
- Costs $9 from the learning fund for each student that views the video (students get unlimited views at no additional cost)
- Includes a pre-recorded video, downloadable activities, and the option to add a Zoom Q&A session (does not include a virtual walk through the aquarium or live footage of exhibits).
- Zoom Q&A sessions offered Wednesday-Friday at 9:15 a.m., 10:00 a.m., or 10:45 a.m.
- You may be combined with other small school groups for your Zoom Q&A session.
How to register
Step 1: Choose the best video for your students (see video descriptions below). If you have students in multiple age groups, submit a separate form for each age group.
Step 2: If you intend to opt for a Zoom Q&A session, please choose your ideal date (and an alternate date). Please note that Zoom Q&A sessions are only available on Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 9:15 a.m., 10:00 a.m., and 10:45 a.m.
Step 3: Register here. Please have the student ID number of each registered student who will be viewing the video.
VIRTUAL PROGRAM OFFERINGS
TURTLE TIME (K-3RD)
Learn all about turtles from Oklahoma to the ocean! We will compare and contrast different types of turtles, their habitats, diets, and adaptations.
INTO THE ECOZONE (4TH-6TH)
In this virtual lesson, students will learn about ocean habitats that serve as nurseries and the incredible animals who inhabit them. Habitats covered include tide pools, kelp forests, marshes, mangrove forests, and coral reefs.
THE INSIDE STORY! VIRTUAL BEHIND-THE-SCENES TOUR (7TH-12TH)
Go behind-the-scenes with aquarium staff and learn about the ways we care for animals and our enclosed ocean. Students will learn about how we apply the scientific method to conserve our coral reefs and how everyone can take part in conservation efforts to save sea turtles, sharks, and corals. Students will also learn about the design of our tanks and filtration systems to provide the optimal care for our animals.
ZOOM Q&A SESSION
Want to hear from the experts? Give your students the opportunity to ask questions about the video program by speaking directly with our Education Staff in a Zoom Q&A session! Zoom sessions are offered Wednesdays, Thursdays, and Fridays at 9:15 a.m., 9:30 a.m., and 10:15 a.m. and last 20-30 minutes, depending on student age and engagement.
Due to space limitations, your group may be combined into a Zoom session with a group from another school.
The Zoom Q&A session is intended to be a follow-up to the video program; there is not a tour or live footage of the aquarium.
We strongly recommend preparing questions ahead of time.
Donors and Donations
Thank you to the generous donors who have made this virtual programming possible!
If you would like to make a donation to our Fish Friends Scholarship Fund, please email our Director of Education and Research, Ann Money, at amoney@okaquarium.org.