National Aquarium Unit Study: PreK–Grade 8

Aligned with Maryland State Curriculum Standards

🐠 Preschool Unit Study (PreK3–PreK4)

📚 Book Recommendations

• Mister Seahorse by Eric Carle

• Commotion in the Ocean by Giles Andreae

• Way Down Deep in the Deep Blue Sea by Jan Peck

✍️ Language Arts & Pre-Writing

• Story Circle – Read an ocean-themed book aloud and name a favorite sea creature from the story.

• Ocean Animal Vocabulary Match – Match pictures to animal names or sounds (e.g., point to the dolphin when hearing the name).

• Ocean Mural Dictation – Describe what is seen in an aquarium photo or book, and an adult writes the words onto a mural or poster.

🧪 Science

• Saltwater Sink or Float – Test common objects in salt vs. freshwater (safe with close supervision).

• Ocean Animal Movement – Pretend to swim, crawl, or slither like different ocean animals; observe which ones use fins, flippers, or tentacles.

• Ocean Color Sorting – Use blue, green, and coral-colored items to create collages based on sea colors.

🔢 Math

• Count the Creatures – Count toy fish, turtles, etc. (1–10) and sort by size or color.

• Build-a-Fish Puzzle – Use felt pieces to assemble fish by shape and color.

• Number Aquarium – Match number cards to toy sea animals placed in a “fishbowl.”

🎨 Art

• Handprint Octopus – Paint a hand and add three more legs with a brush to create an 8-legged octopus print.

• Jellyfish Craft – Use cupcake liners and streamers to create jellyfish mobiles.

• Bubble Wrap Fish Prints – Dip bubble wrap in paint and press onto paper to mimic scales.

🌍 Social Studies

• Who Takes Care of the Ocean? – Introduce the idea of conservation with books and videos.

• Animal Homes – Match sea animals to their environments (coral reefs, open ocean, seaweed beds).

• Dress Like a Diver – Explore safe scuba gear using dress-up play.

📌 Maryland PreK Standard Codes Referenced: Science: PK.3.3, PK.3.4 Math: PK.CC.1–3 Language Arts: PK.RL.1, PK.W.1 Social Studies: PK.3.1 Fine Arts: PK.FA.1

🐢 Elementary School Unit Study (Grades K–5)

📚 Book Recommendations

• Manfish: A Story of Jacques Cousteau by Jennifer Berne

• Shark Lady by Jess Keating

• Ocean: A Photicular Book by Dan Kainen

✍️ Language Arts

• Write a Sea Creature Report – Choose a favorite animal from the visit and write 1–3 paragraphs.

• Ocean Poetry – Acrostic poem using “AQUARIUM” or “OCEAN.”

• My Aquarium Adventure – Narrative journal entry describing what might be seen or was seen at the aquarium.

🧪 Science

• Animal Adaptations Flipbook – Illustrate and describe unique adaptations (e.g. ink from an octopus, jellyfish stingers).

• Water Cycle + Ocean – Diagram how ocean water moves through the water cycle.

• Ocean Zones Diorama – Create a shoebox model of sunlight, twilight, and midnight zones with labeled animals.

🔢 Math

• Bar Graph of Favorite Animals – Graph favorite ocean creatures from a sample of responses.

• Aquarium Budgeting – Use pretend money to “buy” tickets, snacks, and souvenirs with prices listed.

• Measurement Match – Estimate and compare animal sizes (e.g., “How long is a stingray?”).

🎨 Art

• Paper Plate Aquarium – Use cutouts, yarn, and drawings to make a mini-aquarium craft.

• Clay Sea Creatures – Sculpt simple ocean animals using safe modeling clay.

• Coral Reef Collage – Use tissue paper and textured materials to build a reef landscape.

🌍 Social Studies

• Marine Jobs Match – Match aquarium workers to their roles (vet, aquarist, educator).

• Conservation Case Study – Learn about endangered sea turtles and write or draw a fact page.

• Ocean Map Exploration – Label continents and oceans, and mark animal habitats on a world map.

📌 Maryland Elementary Standard Codes Referenced: Science: 3.1.1, 4.3.2 Math: 2.MD.D.10, 3.MD.B.3 Language Arts: W.3.2, RL.4.1 Social Studies: 3.C.1, 4.G.1 Fine Arts: FA2.CR1.1

🐬 Middle School+ Unit Study (Grades 6–8)

📚 Book Recommendations

• World Without Fish by Mark Kurlansky

• Tracking Trash: Flotsam, Jetsam, and the Science of Ocean Motion by Loree Griffin Burns

• The Brilliant Deep by Kate Messner

✍️ Language Arts

• Informative Essay – Research and write about an animal’s role in the ecosystem.

• Creative Narrative – Write a first-person story from the perspective of a sea creature.

• Which Animal Should Be the Aquarium’s Mascot? – Write a persuasive essay with supporting facts.

🧪 Science

• Ecosystem Web Mapping – Build a diagram showing predator-prey relationships.

• Ocean Acidification Demo – Use vinegar and chalk to observe acid reaction (safe and simple).

• Plastic Pollution Case Study – Research effects on marine life and propose solutions.

🔢 Math

• Conservation by the Numbers – Use real aquarium data to calculate species populations and threats.

• Depth Zones Chart – Graph animal sightings by ocean depth.

• Percent Survival Models – Explore survival rates of hatchlings using probability.

🎨 Art

• Gyotaku-Style Fish Prints – Create traditional Japanese fish art with rubber molds or templates.

• Mixed-Media Marine Art – Use recycled materials to design ocean-inspired artwork.

• Perspective Aquarium Drawing – Practice art concepts like scale and proportion to sketch a 3D aquarium scene.

🌍 Social Studies

• Marine Policy Debate Prep – Research a conservation issue and prepare argument points.

• Aquarium Careers Deep Dive – Create a “day in the life” profile of a marine scientist.

• Ocean Trade and Travel History – Explore how the ocean shaped global trade routes and ecosystems.

📌 Maryland Standards Referenced

• Science: MS-LS2-1, MS-ESS3-3

• Math: 6.SP.B.5, 7.RP.A.2

• Language Arts: W.6.2, W.7.1

• Social Studies: G.1.1.3, H.2.1.1

• Art: FA3.CR1.1

Looking for more book ideas? Check out this huge book list from Pratt Libraries and the National Aquarium

https://aqua.org/assets/documents/National-Aquarium-Read-to-Reef-Reading-List.pdf

Click HERE to download this free unit study to save for your next trip to the National Aquarium!