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Reviewed by: Gloria E. Hernandez Scipio, Accelerated Biology Teacher at Long Beach Polytechnic High School
Location: SeaWorld San Diego, 500 Sea World Dr, San Diego, CA 92109. Google Maps Link. GPS
Description: The field trip is designed to be a self-guided educational experience that focuses on ocean animals- their habitats, adaptations, and conservation. Students will explore the ecology of the plants and animals found at Sea World. Students will be given specific areas to explore in Sea World. In each of the following, areas, students will analyze the types of environment that particular animal lives in, the types of plants that are found with the animal, and also what type of animals are those animals found with. Students should be able to list the predators and prey of these animals.
Sea World has a variety of different marine animal encounters! Encounters include: penguin, dolphin, killer whales, shark, flamingos, turtle reef, beluga whales, polar bears, bat rays, walruses, otter, and many others!
Here is a link to the map of Sea World!
Mission Statement:
SeaWorld Parks & Entertainment
For more than 50 years, we have been a leading theme park and entertainment company delivering personal, interactive and educational experiences that blend imagination with nature and enable our guests to celebrate, connect with and care for the natural world we share.
History of Sea World:
SeaWorld® opened its gates for the first time in 1964, founded by George Millay, Milt Shedd, Ken Norris and David DeMott. Originally planned as an underwater restaurant, the concept grew into a marine zoological park on 21 acres along the shore of Mission Bay in San Diego. With an initial investment of $1.5 million, 45 employees, several dolphins, sea lions, and two saltwater aquariums, SeaWorld drew more than 400,000 visitors its first year.
Today, there are three SeaWorld parks in the U.S., including the original San Diego, Calif. location, and parks in Orlando, Fla. and San Antonio, Texas. We also created more parks that connect guests with marine life in new ways. The exclusive Discovery Cove®in Orlando is a tropical oasis where guests can swim with dolphins and other sealife.Aquatica SeaWorld’s Waterpark™, with locations in Orlando, San Antonio and San Diego, combines water park thrills, nature and animals for a unique family experience. The parks' up-close animal encounters, educational attractions and innovative entertainment are designed to inspire guests of all ages to celebrate, connect with and care for the natural world around them. (website)
Access:
Sea World San Diego admission price is $59.
Teachers in California can get a free annual pass! Check the website for availability! .
Great field trip discounts! $29/ student with a minimum of 10 paying students. Check the website for more info!.
Field trip checklist information found here.
Audience:
Elementary school students would be able to see how marine animals interact with eachother and their environment. Students will be exposed to marine animals that are nearly impossible to experience in such close encounters. Students can actually touch marine animals, watch how they are friendly (and highly trained). Byencountering these animals, students have a better perspective of why we need to save our oceans. Conservation is huge, and it is highly emphasized in many, if not all, their shows and demos.
MIddle and High school can really learn about the different environments each animal lives in. There is an abundant amount of information of the animal and its habitat at each exhibit. Animals are placed in a similar habitat and with animals it can mutually benefit from. Biology teachers and Marine science teachers can highly benefit from students observing the different types of plant and animal interactions. Students can explore why certain types of fish interact with other types of fish (what types of fish are found in the same aquarium?). What types of plants are in their tank. Students will be able to analyze their evolutionary adaptation to their environment (why they posses certain characteristics and how it allows them to catch or flee predators/prey.)
Science Concepts Addressed:
Marine Life
Ecology
Evolution
Adaptation
predator/prey
wildlife conservation
human impact on environment
plant/animal interactions
Study Guide:
Study guide created by Sea World: Middle/High school(2.0 MF) Elementary school
Study guide created by G Hernandez Scipio- Field Trip Guide modified by Michael Flores (2.0)
Note: The study guide created is a digital version of the one provided by Sea World. For each section of Sea World, it provides information for the student and asks a question for them to fill out. This digital form of the study guide was created so that studentssubmit a form for each section. The forms have been given public access so that you may make your own forms and collect the data from the students. Ideally, you can have the students complete all the sections or give them a minimum. The guide also provides a "Dive Deeper" portion where you can assign them this as Extra Credit or an additional assignment.
For additional information:
Teachers in California can get a free annual pass! Check the website for availability! .
Great field trip discounts! $29/ student with a minimum of 10 paying students. Check the website for more info!.
Field trip checklist information found here.
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