Pacific Science Center enhances learning about ocean health

Pacific Science Center is the education partner for the Around the Americas expedition. There are several components to this education and outreach program, and many ways your classroom, program, or family can be involved in Around the Americas! Join the Shore Crew, and welcome aboard!

Student Shore Crew

Each week your classroom, informal education center, home-school, or your family can follow the expedition, ask the crew questions, do activities, and connect with other students all around the Americas. Click here to learn more and join the crew; or go directly to the current post!

Curricular Materials

Looking for ocean health-themed activities for your classroom, museum, or activity center? Inquiry-based, science-driven curricular materials are freely available to formal and informal educators who wish to educate and engage students about ocean health. The K-8 Teacher’s Guide is designed for classroom use and the Informal Educator’s Toolkit is intended for use in museums and after-school enrichment programs. Topics include ocean acidification, coral reef ecology, sustainable fisheries, and marine biodiversity, and includes lessons directly related to projects in the on-board research program.

Online Presentations

Each month classrooms and individual students can log in and watch a presentation online by the Around the Americas crew and  education team, presented in collaboration with Washington Virtual Academy. Check back to learn when the next session is scheduled, or go now to our Online Presentations page to learn about the past sessions and how to be part of the next one!

Ocean Artistry

Our sailboat Ocean Watch has some pretty colorful sails- and they could be even more colorful with your help! Download our coloring page and create your own ocean or ocean conservation themed design. Email or mail us your new design, and you just may see your art on our web page!

.

Education Map

Check out this map to see what classes are Ocean Watchers! Some classes have visited Ocean Watch in ports, others are following online. Click on the pin to learn more about that class, see pictures, and read comments from students!

If your class is interested in Around the Americas, you can add your class to this map! Simply email us the teacher’s name, email address (we will not publish it online), grade level, number of students in class, and your location (your city/state/country). If your class gives themselves a new name, (ie: Central Valley Sea Dogs), we can put that on the map too!
You are welcome to include images of your classroom, school or student work for us to include on the web. (Please note: we can only post close-up images of students with signed photo release.)

On-Board Educator

Pacific Science Center educators are crew members on board Ocean Watch and lead education activities in each port. Roxanne Nanninga is leading education activities in the port visits in South and Central America. She was preceded by Zeta Strickland, who joined Ocean Watch through the Northwest Passage, and Sarah Bradshaw, on board for the east coast of the United States.

Port Call Activities

Visit Ocean Watch in port to meet the crew and learn more about the expedition! Pacific Science Center educators can visit your school, or your class or group can visit Ocean Watch which can serve as the primary platform for ocean health-themed education activities. Your class or student group can participate in a variety of activities that fit your schedule and your interests. Activities include: tours of Ocean Watch, interactive activities from the Around the Americas curricular materials, demonstrations of equipment on board, presentation of the expedition and marine health issues, and an exhibit tent that includes additional information on Around the Americas.

Available times are limited in each port. Email today to reserve a spot for your class!