At Sharky Shenanigans, we believe Earth Day isn’t just a one-day party — it’s a year-long adventure! In a high school marine science classroom, every day can be Earth Day when we mix mindfulness, action, and a little salty sea spirit. Here’s how we’re making waves for the planet — with a special shoutout to …
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Let’s be honest: even adult scientists groan a little when they see a long, data-heavy research paper. So how do we get high school students not just to read scientific literature, but actually enjoy it—and better yet, write it?
There’s something magical about watching your students explore the outdoors, get their hands dirty in the muck, and finally understand how an estuary works because they’re standing in one. But if you’ve ever tried to book a field trip and found your dream experience booked up—or just not quite right for your curriculum—you’ve probably thought: “What if I just …
This year’s Celebrate Literacy Week, Florida! encouraged educators to build literacy across subjects, and in our high school marine science classroom, we dove headfirst into one of the most iconic ocean-inspired novels of all time: Jaws by Peter Benchley. But instead of focusing on fear, we used this story as a launchpad for science, media literacy, and creative expression. …
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Raising funds for anything can be a challenge but raising funds for a group of less than 30 people or a class that has no school district funding can be daunting. Having funds is vital for supporting the hands-on experiences that get students involved and excited about the marine world. Being able to be creative …
The world continues to spin and change no matter what we do, so why do we as educators keep the same curriculum and strategies throughout the year? Why don’t we more regularly focus on the now, on the current (pun intended) events that make students interested and engaged in the material? My goal as an …
Welcome to Boston, home of some amazing science educators and home base of the 2024 National Marine Educators Association Conference! For my second year at this conference, I was so excited to get to see the friends I made last year and experience the beauty that is Boston Harbor! Much like last year, I was …
In the quest to inspire young minds and foster a deeper understanding of marine science, inviting guest speakers to a marine science club can be a transformative experience. By bringing in experts from various fields, students gain unique insights, firsthand knowledge, and an appreciation for the vast world beneath the waves. I have used my …
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In the realm of marine science education, dissections have long stood as a cornerstone of hands-on learning. They offer students an invaluable opportunity to explore the anatomy, physiology, and intricate workings of marine organisms, providing a depth of understanding that textbooks and lectures alone can’t achieve. I have long found that dissections be a necessary …
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Engaging students in the ideas behind the types of coral reefs, their zonation, and the processes that make them so special can be challenging. The Building a Coral-Reef activity is a great way to ensure students learn the concepts needed and remember the processes that are acting on coral reefs. And it doesn’t hurt that …
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