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Dive in Deeper – Grades 6-8

Middle school themes explore the relationship between people and ecosystems. Students enhance science skills through hands-on inquiry on-site and in the field.

Lake Lab
A lake is a complex ecosystem. Students will gain a practical overview of limnology (the study of lakes) through hands-on lab activities and be able to draw conclusions about how living things are affected by physical and chemical factors.

Birds
Birds at an Aquarium? That’s right. Birds are an important part of an aquatic ecosystem. Students will compare and contrast bird bodies, take a closer look at migration and go on an indoor birding adventure in our on-site aviary.

Amazon Adventure
This mighty river is key to the fresh water world. Explore the big, bold and beautiful animals of the Amazon River Basin. Compare unique ecosystems like the flooded forest and floodplain lakes to spaces closer to home.

Behind the Scenes Tour
What keeps Great Lakes Aquarium fish tanks looking so clean? How do we feed all these animals? Follow a drop of water through the Aquarium life-support system to understand the process of keeping the 103,000 gallons of water clean. Visit the kitchen where otter and fish food is prepared as well as our animal hospital. Note: Because of the limited access to non-public areas, this class has size and scheduling restrictions.

Brighton Beach (2 hour field class)
Lake Superior has a dramatic geologic history all right here at the surface at Duluth’s Brighton Beach. Students will learn to spot and sort rocks by type, then find evidence of each stage in the region’s earth history right there in the rocks! From ancient mountain ranges to sheets of ice, the story is all there if students just learn how to look. Come explore these stories of fire and ice on the shore of Lake Superior!