Year Two Dive in on an Exciting Day Trip to the Aquarium
On the 15th of June, the students from Year 2 set out on a trip down to the National Marine Aquarium. We had decided to take a hired bus down to Plymouth and had breakfast on our way. Once the sandwiches and juice boxes had been distributed, we continued on our way. The learning team from the aquarium made everything more enjoyable with their professional opinions and expertise.
First Impressions
The day began with a walk down the seafront where we took in the sites and took in the sunny day while the students directed their attention to the seagulls and boats that were at the dock. On entering the aquarium, the students were given a tour by the learning centre staff that showed them various creatures and explained why they were different and what made them similar. The guided tour had a dedicated staff member to show us around and we covered the entire aquarium as the day went on.
Aquarium Workshop
The students were then sent to participate in a workshop that was being conducted that day with options available as well so they could take their pick. A place to live was one that several children showed an interest in where they took them down to the AquaLab where they learnt about the various marine environments through a few experiments that gave them a more immersive experience. For the more creative students who wanted to focus on the art component as well, the Inventafish workshop was the perfect fit. The workshop guided students to use the information they learnt from the tour that they were a part of to create a fish along with its marine environment. At the end of the workshop, they will be able to take a look at other creations from their fellow classmates and explain why they created what they did by backing it up with factual information. All of the workshops lasted sixty minutes after which we headed back to the bus and on our way to grab a bite.
Lunch after the Aquarium
There were plenty of restaurants in the area and we decided to settle for a simple bowl of pasta and some crackers to take along with us as a snack on the way back. On reaching the school, we had a quick competition with the children where they were split into teams and made to answer questions about what they learnt at the aquarium earlier that day. After a fun but tiring day, we headed home looking forward to the next time we visit the aquarium.
Denese Decosse is an education writer specializing in early childhood development and primary education. She focuses on innovative teaching methods, child-friendly learning environments, and strategies to support young learners.
