How do animals protect themselves? To answer this question, your students will explore Shedd's Caribbean Reef habitat to identify and observe animals' defensive structures and behaviors used for survival. Then, students will predict and analyze what could happen when an animal’s defenses don’t function properly. Finally, they will learn the story of a rescued animal to communicate why an aquarium is a good home for an animal with impaired defenses.
Science Tech Treks are innovative field trip experiences where students take on the role of a scientist, using tablets to interact with and collect data on animals and their habitats.
Key Concepts:
Animal defenses, structure and function of adaptive body parts, animal care
Skills:
Observations, cause and effect, communicating scientific ideas
Standards
NGSS: 1-LS1-1
Amplify Connections: 1 –
Plant and Animal Defenses
Accessibility
Program includes:
Moving and standing for up to 1 hour
Sitting on the floor for activities; chairs and tables are available
Moving around the aquarium, which has varying light, noise and temperature levels
Students may experience an animal encounter with a turtle, tortoise, or hermit crab.
Facilitators will be using portable voice amplification
Viewing a tablet screen with videos/images and the use of headphones.
We believe there should be no boundaries to your Shedd Aquarium experience. If you have an accommodation request related to a disability, please contact us at [email protected] or 312-939-2438. We look forward to assisting you.
Yes, by digital connection and in person! For K-8 classrooms, check out all our offerings here.
Request
a reservation online using the link on the program’s specific information page.
Then, a member of our team will contact you to confirm your requested dates.
We
will try to schedule your trip and any learning programs for your first chosen date. If
that date is not available, we schedule you for the next available date of your
choice. You will receive a confirmation email informing you of the field trip and any program dates, start times and fees. If you have registered for a
virtual field trip or learning program, a Shedd staff member will contact you to confirm these
details.
We require one chaperone for every 10 students, although one for every five is recommended. Teachers are counted in the chaperone-to-student ratio. Please note: There is an individual fee if your chaperones exceed a 1:5 ratio.
Yes! We encourage teachers to visit so that they can prepare for their field trips. Educators from Illinois, Indiana, Michigan and Wisconsin can visit Shedd free by registering for a pass online. Please note: While teachers are admitted free, their guests will be required to pay the full admission price.
