Under the Sea

Under the Sea: Students are introduced to a variety of live invertebrates and vertebrates in order to experience the diversity of life found beneath the ocean waves. Students learn about the ecology of the ocean and the characteristics and adaptations of marine animals such as crabs, sea snails, clams, sea urchins, starfish and fishes. Offered as assembly or classroom presentation. Grades Pre K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Standards covered.

Chesapeake Critters: Students become familiar with one of the world's most productive estuaries through the presentation of live animals. Blue crabs, oysters, mud crabs, and killifish are some of the animals introduced. Students examine graphs of important fisheries and are challenged to extrapolate problems, causes and solutions. Learn why the Chesapeake Bay is so valuable ecologically and economically to those who live in and around it, both historically (from John Smith forward) and today. Offered as assembly or classroom presentation. Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Standards covered.

Delaware Denizens: The Delaware Bay is examined. Live animals such as horseshoe crabs, oysters, and American eels are seen and local history is discussed. Students become familiar with their local watershed. Learn why the Delaware Bay is so valuable ecologically and economically to those who live in and around it. Offered as assembly or classroom presentation. Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Standards covered.

Coral Reefs - Cities Under the Sea: New for Fall '05! Take a journey to a coral reef and learn about this amazing ocean realm. Live coral and reef fishes are brought and many students are brought forward to demonstrate what makes a reef. Offered as assembly or classroom presentation. Grades K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12.

A Day at the Beach: Join Under the Sea on a virtutal visit to the beach! Animals introduced include a ghost crab, mole crab, horseshoe crab, and clam! Learn about waves, sand, tides, and the sun. This program was presented at all Fairfax County Public Libraries in the summer of 2008 and received rave reviews. Offered as assembly or classroom presentation. Grades Pre K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Standards covered.

Under the Ocean: Continue your journey under the sea by learning how man uses and abuses the ocean's resources. Also learn how to reverse the negative impact we have on our ocean. Offered as assembly or classroom presentation. Grades Pre K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Standards covered.

Sharks and other Fishes: Learn what makes a fish different from other animals when a live shark and ray, along with other fishes, and numerous artifacts visit your school. Offered as assembly or classroom presentation. Grades 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Standards covered.

Whales!: Using props, authentic artifacts, and a life-sized inflatable whale, students learn the characteristics, adaptations, and life histories of whales. Also learn how many types of whales live in the ocean, how to tell a dolphin from a porpoise, and see just how big a whale can be. Offered as assembly or classroom presentation. Grades Pre K -2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12. Standards covered.

Something's Fishy: Younger students are introduced to the basics of our finned friends through the use of live fishes and artifacts. Offered as a classroom presentation. Grades Pre K -2. Standards covered.

Squid Dissection: Preserved squids are used, as real scientists introduce students to dissection techniques, molluscan anatomy and the inner workings of the ocean squid, Loligo. Enough squid and dissection tools (plastic knives) are supplied for the entire class to dissect. Offered as classroom presentation. Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12. Standards covered.

Oyster Dissection: Live oysters are examined externally and internally. Students are taught about the life cycle, habitat, and history of the Eastern Oyster, Crassostrea virginica. Shells are recycled at the end and flesh is recycled too (fed to our animals back at our facility!) Offered as classroom presentation. Grades 4-5, 6-8, 9-12. Standards covered.

Aquarium Set-Up Mini-Lab: Temporarily not available. May be offered again in the future. Students use observation skills, learn what is needed for a habitat, and learn basic aquarium maintenance when a 30-gallon saltwater aquarium is set up at your school. A curriculum guide is included, full of suggested activities to be conducted during the two months the aquarium is in your school. No experience needed! Offered as classroom presentation. Grades
Pre K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12 Cost for this special program: $220.

Marine Biology Day: Experience a full day of marine biology when a real marine biologist comes to your school. Students learn about the creatures of the ocean, and what it is like to be a marine biologist. Two assemblies of your choice are combined with twelve Animal Close Encounters. Offered as an assembly combined with animal close encounters. Grades Pre K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12

Sandy Burk - Special Presentations

These presentations are not offered year round and must be booked in advance. Sandy usually has to make special arrangements to visit your location. She will let you know if the date you would like is just not possible. Although she may be able to visit your location during the school day, evening or weekend presentations are also likely so consider them as well.

Let the Rivers Run Silver Again! - Kids Saving Our Bay and Rivers. Learn how kids are saving our bay and rivers and how your school can too! A talk by author Sandy Burk. Excellent talk about how DC area schools have made a difference for a threatened fish and its habitat. Teaches ecology, scientific meathod, and environmental action. Tips are given on how your school can start its own environmental project from raising trees to restocking fish. Price: $250 for an assembly, $150 for a classroom.

The Weird, the Wild, and the Ugly: Fishes of the Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay

Sharks inside Washington DC? Walking snakehead fish along the banks of the Potomac? Join marine biologist and award-winning author Sandy Burk for an informative and beautiful show on the fish that lie beneath the waters of our Potomac River and Chesapeake Bay and the animals that depend on them. See how area students are helping save fish that are threatened as featured in her award-winning book "Let the River Run Silver Again!" Learn how you too can help to restore our fish and rivers.