A Center of Excellence in
Marine Genomics

Whitney Lab K-12 Outreach Education Programs

The goal of the Whitney Lab's K-12 outreach education programs is to use the Lab's resources and expertise in modern biology to enrich science education in the surrounding communities.  At the elementary school level, our programs introduce younger students to the scientific method, and do so in a format that promotes observation and questioning.  At the higher level they provide high school students with the resources to conduct an experiment using modern biotechnology.

 

Program Overviews

 

Girl holding a hermit crabThe Traveling Zoo

This program takes a suite of marine animals to local K-3 classes.  Whitney-trained docents use those animals in a hands-on setting to introduce the children to marine biology by exploring how the animals breathe, find and eat food, protect themselves and generally survive in their environment.  The format of this class promotes observation and questioning by the students.

  • For kindergarten through third grade students

  • Available Tuesdays and Thursdays, October through May

  • View online calendar for available dates

  • 25 student maximum per class (we can accommodate 1-3 classes per school visit)

  • $30 per class to cover the cost of transportation

 

Girls looking at mud snailsA Day at the Whitney Lab

For this program, students in Grades 4-6 come to the Whitney Lab for the better part of a school day.  In the lab they circulate through a series of docent-guided sessions that include conducting experiments, observing microscopic and planktonic organims collected from the Whitney dock.  The format is designed to promote questioning and observation by the students at a more advanced level than the Traveling Zoo. The curriculum is designed to meet Florida Sunshine standards.

  • For groups of students in grades four through six

  • Available Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Thursdays, October through May

  • View online calendar for available dates

  • Choose between a 2 or 2.5 hour program. Begins at 10:00 or 10:30 a.m. and ends by 1:00 p.m.

  • 12-24 students per class

  • $6.00 per student to cover costs of supplies


Registration Information

Reserve your field trip now using the online registration form.

See the Trip Planner for resources and instructions on how to make the most of your visit.

Please also review our Teacher Resources.

Check out our FAQs and if you still have questions, contact us by phone at 904-461-4014 or email the This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .

If you would like to teach in these programs or help behind the scenes, please see the Volunteer page.

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