Early Learning Programs
Our Early Learning Programs: Ocean Life Discovery Program and Shark Discovery Program, are interactive touch and learn session introducing children to a range of interesting marine creatures, including our sharks, and inspiring them to want to learn more about the ocean and take responsibility for marine ecosystems for a lifetime.
Enthusiastic qualified marine educators arrive with fascinating live marine animals, artefacts, games and activities; blending ‘hands on’ interaction with a touch of science and a lot of humour, to make learning about the ocean fun!
Live Marine Animal Interaction
Children meet our: Baby Bamboo Shark, Fresh Water Turtle, Blue Linckia Seastars, Thorny Seastars, Tropical Sea Cucumber, Black Sea Cucumber, Sea Urchins
Artefact Activity Station
Fascinating artefacts, shark jaws & teeth, odd and interesting shells, replica sea creatures, reference guides
Program Format
Early Learning Programs usually include a 20-30 minute show for toddlers and a 40 minute show for ages 3 – 5 years. Multiple programs for large centres and Kindy programs are also available. Programs can be tailored to suit requirement. See program details below.
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Early Learning Programs
Toddler Program
(6 months – 2.5 years): 20 – 30 mins.
This interactive touch and learn session introduces children to fascinating creatures from the ocean. Children carefully touch our marine creatures, shark jaws and other amazing artefacts. Our lively educators will ensure children are thoroughly entertained and inspired.
Children will discover:
- Animals have colours, patterns, shapes and textures
- Shells are protective houses once used by living marine creatures
- Marine animals look & feel different for a reason
- Animals breathe & exist under water
- Sea creatures have mouths, stomachs and legs like humans, but they are very different in appearance
- How to handle, care for, and protect live animals
Ocean Life Discovery Program
(3-5 years): 40 mins
This program, aimed at older children, covers the above areas of discovery but offers a greater depth of information. Children carefully touch our marine creatures and amazing artefacts such as shark jaws and teeth.
We begin to introduce the following concepts:
- The importance of caring for the environment for the future
- The grouping of living things according to their features (Classification)
- Who eats who! (Food chains)
- The relationships between living organisms and their environment (Ecology)
Shark Discovery Program
(3-5 years): 40 mins
- Children learn all about these iconic ocean giants and their importance in our ocean, meet a live shark, and touch real shark teeth.
- Sharks really engage kids to want to learn about the ocean, so things often get lively!
This child responsive experience will answer questions such as:
- Why is a sea star not a starfish and how do they eat?
- How can you tell what sharks eat, just by looking at their teeth?
- How do sea urchins help keep the sea clean?
- What might happen if you drop a plastic bag on the ground?
- How do marine animals protect themselves?
Some things I might learn:
- A starfish isn’t a fish at all – they are now known as ‘sea stars’! They are rough and spiky on top and a little squishy underneath where their tube feet are.
- Sea Urchins don’t like being upside down and turn themselves back over using their spikes.
- Tropical sea cucumbers have red stripes to say, “Stop! I’m poison. Don’t eat me”. They feel spongy and soft and a bit slimy!
- Lots of sea creatures cleverly use ‘camouflage’ for protection.
- Sea cucumbers eat sand off the bottom of the ocean, helping to keep the ocean clean.
- Some sea stars shoot their stomachs out to catch food.
- It’s up to all of us to look after our ocean, to help all the sea creatures survive and do their special job in maintaining the marine environment.