Education
Plan a Field Trip
Navigate the aquatic world of Shedd for an exciting and educational adventure. Create a memorable experience and expand your curriculum with lab programs on animal behavior, habitats, adaptations, ecosystems, anatomy and water chemistry. Take your students’ learning to the next level.
How will you build a better field trip?
Grades K–2 Programs
Animals in Action
Observe the special movements of turtles, penguins, sharks and sea urchins in action. Students interact with hermit crabs, make predictions about their movement and role-play other unique animal movements.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 12A, 12B, 12D, 13A, 13B, 6D, 7A, 7B, 9A, 9B, 9C, 10A, 10B
Connection to Exhibits: Waters of the World, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, Oceanarium, Caribbean Reef
SEA Lessons: Animal Movement Bingo, Animal Imaging
Ten Fun Finds Map: Cool Moves
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Camouflaging Critters
Explore the surprising colors of aquatic animals and the role camouflage plays in the natural world. The scientific process comes to life as students make predictions, report results and use math skills.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, 6D, 7A, 8B, 9A, 9B, 9C, 10A, 10B
Connection to Exhibits: Waters of the World, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, Oceanarium, Caribbean Reef
SEA Lessons: Animal Imaging, Color Bingo, Camouflage Bingo, Where Are All the Animals?
SEA Interactive: Squish the Fish
Ten Fun Finds Map: Disguises for Hiding
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Happenin’ Habitats
Through investigations and problem solving, students explore how similar animals adapt to very different habitats. They interact with animals and discuss how all animals adapt to the places in which they live.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 12A, 12B, 12C, 13A, 7A, 7B, 9A, 9B, 9C, 10A, 10B
Connection to Exhibits: Waters of the World, Amazon Rising, Wild Reef, Oceanarium, Caribbean Reef
SEA Lessons: Habitat Bingo, Aquatic Art, Animal Imaging, Where Are All the Animals?
SEA Interactive: Squish the Fish
Ten Fun Finds Map: Staying Alive
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Icy Adaptations
Take a closer look at how Shedd’s Oceanarium animals adapt to their cold-weather climates.
IL State Learning Standards: Coming Soon
Connection to Exhibits: Oceanarium
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Grades 3–5 Programs
Fish Files Updated for 2010-2011 school year!
Grab your magnifying lens and get up close with a fish. Using the scientific process skills of observation and data collection, students conduct experiments to discover why fishes look the way they do and how they are adapted to their surroundings.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A
Connection to Exhibits: Waters of the World, Wild Reef, Caribbean Reef
SEA Lessons: Aquarium Poetry, Observing an Animal
SEA Interactive: Build a Fish
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Whale Adventure
Students investigate the different ways in which whales feed, then build a food web and uncover the many adaptations whales need to survive in the Pacific Northwest.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 11B, 12B, 13A
Connection to Exhibits: Oceanarium
SEA Lessons: Aquarium Poetry, Observing an Animal
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Reef Relationships
Examine life in a coral reef ecosystem. Students delve into predator-prey interactions to understand the specialized feeding adaptations animals need to thrive on the reef.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A
Connection to Exhibits: Wild Reef, Caribbean Reef
SEA Lessons: Aquarium Poetry, Observing an Animal
SEA Interactive: Build a Fish
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Amazon Survival
Students re-create the relationships between plants and animals in the Amazon rain forest to discover how they depend on one another.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 11B, 12A, 12B, 13A
Connection to Exhibits: Amazon Rising
SEA Lessons: Amazon Exploration, Aquarium Poetry, Observing an Animal
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Grades 6–8 Programs
Exploring Anatomy: Squid Dissection
Examine the morphology of a squid during a student-driven hands-on dissection. Students work together to identify parts of a squid and explore the many adaptations that help a squid survive in its habitat.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B
Connection to Exhibits: Wild Reef, Waters of the World: Oceans, Caribbean Reef
SEA Lessons: Animal Behavior, Classify Shedd’s Collection
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Sea Otter Survival
Investigate the unique traits of sea otters and their marine ecosystems in this problem-based learning lab. Students uncover data about otter habitat, behavior and diet to reveal how to care for these animals in an aquarium. Then they plan their own sea otter environment.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, 1B, 1C, 4B
Connection to Exhibits: Oceanarium, Waters of the World: Oceans
SEA Interactive: Conservation Investigation: Seahorses
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Great Lakes: Puzzling Populations
Go behind the scenes at Shedd with problem-based learning to explore why fish populations are declining in the Great Lakes. Students perform water-quality tests, observe plankton and uncover data about invasive species to solve the puzzle of the population decline.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, 1B, 1C, 4B
Connection to Exhibits: Waters of the World: Local Waters
SEA Interactive: Conservation Investigation: Seahorses
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Lakeshore Biology
On the shore of Lake Michigan, students conduct water-quality tests, collect plankton samples and connect the effects of local weather, plants, animals and human residents to the health of our lake. Seasonal program offered in September, October, April, May and June only. Portions of the class will take place outside, weather permitting.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B
Connection to Exhibits: Waters of the World: Local Waters
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Grades 9–12 Programs 
Exploring Pathology: Fish Dissection
Students work in teams to explore the anatomy of a fish through hands-on dissection. With the help of Shedd’s animal care staff, they will determine the health of their fish and understand the role a necropsy plays in science.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B
Connection to Exhibits: Waters of the World, Caribbean Reef
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Mission: Marine Habitat
Students design a marine protected area for animals in the Pacific Northwest through problem-based learning. Focusing on sharks, whales and sea lions, they uncover the intricacies of marine environments and the conservation efforts to protect these important animals.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, 1B, 1C
Connection to Exhibits: Oceanarium, Waters of the World: Oceans
SEA Interactive: Conservation Investigation: Seahorses
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Great Lakes: Testing the Waters
Go behind the scenes at Shedd to investigate the complexities of the Great Lakes ecosystem, including water quality, invasive species and plankton populations. Students apply problem-based learning to evaluate the health of the Great Lakes and some of its fish populations.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B, 1B, 1C, 4B
Connection to Exhibits: Waters of the World: Local Waters
SEA Interactive: Conservation Investigation: Seahorses
Register for this program. 
Lakeshore Biology
On the shore of Lake Michigan, students conduct water-quality tests, collect plankton samples and connect the effects of local weather, plants, animals and human residents to the health of our lake. Seasonal program offered in September, October, April, May and June only. Portions of the class will take place outside, weather permitting.
IL State Learning Standards: 11A, 12A, 12B, 13A, 13B
Connection to Exhibits: Waters of the World: Local Waters
SEA Lessons: Coming in fall 2009
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Family programs
Encourage parent/child learning with family programs that connect to science and nature.
Educator resources
Add interactive learning to your curriculum with Shedd Educational Adventures and other classroom resources.
Illinois Learning Standards
Our K-12 programs ignite student wonder and offer problem-based learning while fulfilling Illinois Learning Standards for Science.
