Aquarium Lesson Plans

Students explore the beauty of British Columbia by participating in a class field trip. In this ecosystem observation lesson plan, students investigate the Vancouver Aquarium and Stanley Park, one of the largest parks in North America. Students identify the separate ecosystems, beach and forest, before completing a worksheet based on the positive and negative impact of human beings.

Tenth graders determine the cause of an algal bloom in a classroom aquarium. Students analyze the situation and present a solution to the problem in the given time frame after researching and conducting experiments. Solutions are presented in the form of oral presentations and must include a PowerPoint slide show.

Students search for an animal with body parts for each number from one to ten during a field trip to an aquarium. They count rays, fins, feet, gills, eyes, spots or anything. When they get back toschool, students compile their findings and make an aquarium counting-book or display.

Learners examine the abiotic factors needed by their aquarium creatures to survive. In this life science lesson, students create an aquarium using a soda bottle. They write a detailed description of what they did in this experiment.

Students name elements that are necessary parts of a healthy human habitat. They create a two column chart. In the second column, students list elements fish need in order to survive in the aquarium. Students understand the aquarium and its equipment. They identify each part and its purpose.

Learners discuss ammonia, and ways it may get into the aquarium. They complete a worksheet about the Nitrogen Cycle. Students learn how to get the ammonia and nitrite out of their aquarium.

Students discuss places they have been where the air seemed hard to breathe. They discuss if they could "see" the humidity or smell. Students discuss ways this might relate to the fish in the aquarium. The teacher introduces pH and how to find it. Students practice testing acidity of common household substances.

Third graders create aquariums or terrariums to explain how creatures depend on living and nonliving things.

Students explore the characteristics of water habitats.  In this water habitat lesson plan, students review bingo cards with specialized features of water habitats.  Students participate in a bingo game about their habitat.  Students visit the aquarium and complete their bingo cards. Students create a guidebook for the aquarium.

Students create a children's book on Keiko, the killer whale that was rehabilitated and returned to the wild after living in an aquarium. In small groups, they conduct internet research to find out the history and current status of Keiko. They evaluate other children's books to design their story and layout. There is a Discovery Channel companion video to go with this activity.