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School-Based Programs
The Rolling Rainforest: Created for underserved elementary schools in the Washington, DC area, the Rolling Rainforest serves thousands of students and teachers who face transportation challenges and tight operating budgets. This mobile outreach initiative also visits community centers, health clincis, festivals, and museums throughout the nation. Check out the Rolling Rainforests' website for more information Park Outreach Programs: In a two to three-hour experience at a Maryland or Virginia State Park, students rotate through approximately ten stations, two taught by Living Classrooms' staff and the remaining by school teachers and chaperones (you teachers will receive these easy self-run directions prior to scheduled date). Lesson topics may include: Water Quality, Wetlands, Buoyancy, Birds, Plankton, Macro-invertebrates, Seine fishing, Pond Exploration, Invasive Species, Orienteering and more. Black Maritime History and the Oyster: Learn the skill of caulking and find out how many African Americans used maritime skills to pursue their dreams of freedom. Dissect oysters and discover their importance to the Chesapeake Bay and the African-American workers, from a time when this bivalve was a national and international obsession. Chesapeake Bay and River Ecology: Learn about what a watershed is and the watershed in which we live. Investigate the issues that are impacting the health of the Chesapeake Bay watershed. This program uses a unique hands-on activity and Living Classrooms' 3-D model of the watershed. Fish Fun and Adaptations: Learn about the different types of fish in the Anacostia and Potomac Rivers and their importance to aquatic food webs. This lesson is great for younger ages (pre-school through 3rd grade) but can be used for all grades. Live fish will be provided when possible to study and identify. These students may also have the opportunity to use a dichotomous key to identify fish species. Students will create their own imaginary fish with features suitable for specific diets and habitats. History of the Anacostia: Explore life of the Nacotchtank Indians and the development of Anacostia, bringing as history comes to life. Students will build simulated Nacotchtank long houses and move through a timeline of history. Plankton: Learn about the different types of plankton and their importance to aquatic food webs. Live plankton samples will be provided when possible. Students will view plankton under magiscopes and a microscope that is hooked up to a television screen. The students will also have the opportunity to use a dichotomous key to identify plankton species. Water Quality: Test two samples of water, one a known source such as the school drinking water and one, an unknown source (Anacostia River or Potomac River water). Students will perform wet chemistry tests on these samples to test the temperature, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, phosphates, pH, and fecal colliform. They will make a hypothesis about where the unknown sample originated. After-School Programs: After-school programs can range in length from one-day per week to Monday through Friday. The focus can be one theme or multiple themes throughout the year, monthly, or weekly. Topics range from environmental science, math, and social science as related to individual neighborhoods and local surroundings. The cost for after-school programs ranges depending on the length of the program. Meaningful Watershed Experience: Couple two of these classroom sessions with a shipboard experience to provide your students with a "Meaningful Watershed Experience". Pre and post trip activities will be utilized to assist with preparing the students for their upcoming trip on board Half Shell and reinforcing topics covered on the trip.
To book your next outreach experience, please contact: |
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