The programs below are offered throughout the academic school year for Elementary School students. Along with the details of each program, you will find the Alabama Course of Study and Ocean Literacy Standards associated with each.
Due to the availability of classroom space, the maximum number of participants allowed per activity is 35, unless otherwise stated. Reservations must be confirmed one month before arrival. Additional information on programs, nearby educational attractions, preparing your students for their trip, and more is available upon request by contacting Scheduling Coordinator Jennifer Latour by email at scheduler@disl.org or by phone at (251) 861-2141 x7511. See our Academic Year Field Trip FAQ’s for more help planning your trip and downloading forms.
Touch Lab (K-5th, 6-8th, 9-12th) (1 hr) (lab activity)
Students explore many different marine species from the coast of Alabama and the Gulf of Mexico through sight and touch. The educator facilitates a discussion of animal classification, morphology, and life cycles, introducing marine ecology concepts appropriate for the grade level (ex. food webs, cycles, predator-prey relationships).
One Fish, Two Fish (K-3) (1.5 hr) (lab activity)
Students investigate the phrase ‘form follows function’ as they discuss what makes a fish a fish, what different body shapes tell us about what a fish eats, where it lives, and how fast it can swim. Students then apply these ideas as they create their own new fish species.
Alabama Aquarium - (K-2nd 3rd-5th, 6-8th, 9-12th) (allow 1.5 hr)
Students explore Gulf of Mexico habitats, species, and issues through a self-guided tour of the Alabama Aquarium. Galleries highlight the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, the Mobile Bay estuary, the coastal Gulf of Mexico, and the Gulf’s barrier islands displaying more than 100 local species and evolving displays on local, regional, and national environmental issues. Four grade-based curricula (K-2, 3-5, 6-8, 9-12) are available to help focus student attention or assessment.
History of Dauphin Island (4th – 12th)(3.5 hr) (field program)
Dauphin Island is rich with the past and stories that include Native American civilizations, French settlements, and Civil War events. In this class, students investigate Alabama’s history by traveling by bus to visit shell middens and touring historic Fort Gaines. Note: there is a separate cost for this activity. This class can be shortened by only visiting Fort Gaines.
