The ocean makes up most of our planet, and the creatures that dwell in the ocean are enchanting and endlessly fascinating. A school trip to an aquarium can be an incredible way to capture your pupils’ attention and inspire them, all while enhancing the curriculum.
There are many benefits to choosing to visit an aquarium for your school trip, from improving vocabulary to promoting an appreciation for nature.
The benefits of a school trip to an aquarium
No matter the age of your school children, there’s something to keep everyone engaged at the aquarium. For younger learners, hands-on activities, interactive sessions and more offer a great way to learn about marine life and how to highlight the differences between these creatures and other animals.
Equally at the other end of the scale, if you have older students preparing for their GCSEs, our classroom sessions for Key Stage 4 include the threats to shark species and their ecosystems.
So, whether your pupils are 6, 16 or somewhere in between, there’s something new for them to learn right here at Blue Planet Aquarium. With that in mind, here are just some of the top benefits of visiting an aquarium with school.
Improves vocabulary
An aquarium offers extensive visual stimulation that’s perfect for children’s cognitive development, making it a great choice for a day out where they can further develop their vocabulary through identification. Here at Blue Planet Aquarium we have an incredible array of aquatic animals, including sharks, rays, marine fish, freshwater fish, reptiles, amphibians and invertebrates.
We can guarantee there’s species here that you’ve not heard of before, and certainly never seen with your own eyes. So, what better way to learn new words than to see the creatures that the words are referring to?
Encourages relaxation
Depending on their age, children can often be highly strung, whether it’s younger children that are a bundle of energy or older children that may be worried about upcoming exams. An aquarium offers a wealth of sensory advantages, offering a mellow rhythm that can be soothing and relaxing.
There have been multiple studies that a trip to an aquarium can alleviate anxiety and stress, making it an incredibly beneficial and even therapeutic way to spend a day. From the flow of the water to watching fish swim back and forth, not to mention the dim lighting in some of the exhibits, it can be a really calming environment.
Promotes an appreciation for nature
You can’t fully appreciate the magnitude of life under the sea unless you see it in person, and we can’t stress enough how important it is to teach children that there is a world beyond their neighbourhood that they have yet to explore.
This will not only be their first opportunity to see some of our creatures first-hand, but they will also learn about their habitats and behaviours. What’s more, experiencing an aquarium can also open your mind up to the importance of conservation and what can be done to preserve and protect marine life, including how children and teachers can do their part either at school or home. Our team are passionate about conservation and work tirelessly to make sure our animals are protected for future generations to come, and we’re even home to some endangered species.
Inspires imagination
Some of our creatures are incredibly vivid, bold and eye-catching in more ways than one, from fascinating behaviour to bright colours. They can provide endless inspiration for our imaginations, and there’s simply no substitute to seeing them up-close in real life.
From the unique looking axolotl to everyone’s favourite clownfish, there’s a whole host of colourful and intriguing species for you to be inspired by. What’s more, it reminds us that there’s a big wide world out there, much of which we know little about.
Did you know that Christopher Columbus once mistook manatees as mermaids? This is just one example of how mysterious and unusual life under the sea can be, making an aquarium the perfect place to spark your pupils’ imaginations.
Appeals to different types of learners
There are a number of different ways that children can learn whether it be through visual stimulation or tactile learning. An aquarium can offer a great environment to appeal to all different types of learners, whether it’s the vibrant colours of our fish or the tours and talks that are scheduled throughout the day.
So, whether your pupils learn best through reading and writing, or through a more hands-on experience, an aquarium can offer something to engage everyone.
Arrange your school visit today
Apart from all these wonderful benefits, we also offer different educational talks on several Key Stages to suit pupils of all ages.
If we’ve convinced you that we are the ideal choice for your next school trip, then give us a call today on 0151 357 8804 to arrange your visit – a member of the Blue Planet Aquarium team will be on hand to organise a schedule for your school trip in advance.