Aquavision Virtual Classroom

Join us in our award-winning Virtual Classroom!

Aquavision distance learning programs connect participants with an Aquarium instructor for an interactive virtual visit to the Texas State Aquarium. Via our live HD cameras, participants can observe our animals from their classroom, the library, or even the dining room table!

Each program is aligned to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS) and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) to support formal learning.  Programs are designed to promote STEM process skills, including collecting data, observing, and drawing conclusions about the natural world. 

  • Creature Tales: Alligator, Shark, or Sea Turtle

    This is a 30-minute program, best suited for learners in PreK – 2nd grade; each session is $130 and can accommodate up to 30 participants.

    -Your students will enjoy an animal-themed story and virtually meet the superstar animal of the book. Read along, make observations, recall facts, and get an up-close look at a live animal. Choose between a baby alligator, shark, or sea turtle.

  • Virtual Classroom: Dolphins, Fish, or Sharks

    This is a 30-minute program, best suited for learners in PreK – 2nd grade; each session is $130 and can accommodate up to 30 participants.

    -Virtual Classroom: Dolphins
    Join us as we learn how to move and talk like a dolphin! Get your students up and moving as they study the adaptations and body parts these mammals use to swim and survive in the ocean. Students will also discover how dolphins communicate using distinct clicks and whistles and visit our Atlantic bottlenose dolphins through our real-time view into Dolphin Bay.

    -Virtual Classroom: Fish
    Let’s talk fishes LIVE from the Texas State Aquarium as your students observe and compare and contrast the diversity of fishes in Aquarium habitats. Together, we’ll distinguish between fish body shapes, infer how shapes help them survive and thrive in their habitats, and create a special fish drawing.

    -Virtual Classroom: Sharks
    Long bodies, sharp teeth, and a top predator… you guessed it sharks! Join us in the Virtual Classroom to discover how sharks move, what their teeth are like, and the parts that make up their bodies. Your students will practice important STEM process skills by observing and describing real live sharks, collecting data and communicating what they learned from sharks in Texas State Aquarium habitats.

  • Turtle Tracks

    This is a 50-minute program, best suited for learners in 3rd – 5th grade; each session is $200 and can accommodate up to 30 participants.

    Students become marine biologists as they track Olive, a Kemp’s Ridley sea turtle, on her journey across the Gulf of Mexico. During their sea turtle study, students discuss why scientists track sea turtles and what technology they use. Students will read aloud and plot Olive’s migration path, hypothesize why she may have traveled to different locations, and identify potential threats encountered in the Gulf of Mexico waters.

  • Let’s Talk Sharks

    This is a 50-minute program and can be tailored to engage learners of all ages; each session is $200 and can accommodate up to 30 participants.

    We will observe shark biofacts and explore how a shark’s skeleton, jaws, teeth, skin, and camouflage make them top predators. Introducing common shark species in the Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean, as well as view our resident sharks live from the Texas State Aquarium, we will discuss why shark conservation is important and what scientists and aquariums are doing to conserve these mysterious animals.

  • Discovery Dive: Sharks or Coral Reef

    This is a 50-minute program and can be tailored to engage learners of all ages; each session is $350 and can accommodate an unlimited number of participants.

    -Discovery Dive: Coral Reef
    Join a SCUBA diver from underwater at the Texas State Aquarium! Practice your fish identification skills, observe fish feeding, and learn about the adaptations of coral reef fish. As you see the diver’s perspective with our underwater footage, you will have a chance to ask your questions! During this program, you’ll discover the skills we use every day to care for our animals and learn how you can help conserve coral reefs from your classroom.

    -Discovery Dive: Sharks
    Did you know that our SCUBA divers swim with sharks, rays, and a variety of fish every day? Learners will discover the adaptations of sharks and rays and how we care for the animals that call this habitat home. During this program, you’ll discover the skills we use every day to care for our animals and learn how you can help conserve these habitats.

  • Virtual Field Trip

    A 30-minute session, for up to 30 participants, is $130. A 50-minute session, for up to 30 participants, is $200. A 50-minute session for an unlimited number of participants is $350.

    Our virtual field trips can be tailored to suit the needs of your group! The Gulf of Mexico and Caribbean are dynamic and diverse ecosystems that support a wide range of life. During this interactive tour, explore a variety of habitats through our real-time cameras from the comforts of your own classroom. Make observations and comparisons of the inhabitants and their adaptations for survival in these habitats.

Program availability is limited, so please submit your request at least 2 weeks prior to your preferred program date. To request a program, please complete the following inquiry form:

Virtual Classroom Request Form

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Aquavision FAQS

  • When can I book a program?

    Program availability is limited, so please submit your request at least 2 weeks prior to your preferred program date.

  • How do I connect?

    We primarily use Zoom videoconferencing software. Please contact us if you have questions about this or a special request. Test calls to check technology and connection are available upon request at no additional fee.

  • What equipment do I need?

    Access to a computer or tablet with internet is all you need, and a projector or TV screen is recommended for larger groups.  We also recommend a webcam and microphone to interact with the presenter.

  • What if my group is not in one place?

    Whether participants are at their homes, together in a classroom, or a combination of both, we are happy to accommodate.

  • How will I interact?

    You can use a webcam and microphone to interact with us directly, or you can use a chat function to send us questions live.

  • Do I have to be a classroom teacher to participate?

    Not at all! We teach Aquavision programs to a variety of groups including birthday parties, senior centers, libraries, homeschool groups, professional meetings, and individuals.  We are happy to work with you to accommodate your group’s needs and interests.

  • Can I record the program and watch it again?

    We do not allow recordings. Please ensure your group can attend your chosen date and time.

  • What is your cancellation policy?

    Cancellations must be made at least 48 hours before the scheduled program time to avoid billing.  No-shows will be responsible for the full amount.

Aquavision is Award-Winning!

The Texas State Aquarium Flint Hills Resources Aquavision Distance Learning program has earned a Pinnacle Award from the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration (CILC). CILC is a national and international leader in content aggregation, consulting, and support services that assist organizations with the utilization of videoconferencing and other collaborative technologies.

 

CILC has bestowed the Pinnacle Award annually since 2008 on organizations that receive outstanding scores on program evaluations submitted by educators and end users. According to CILC, receiving the award “indicates remarkable quality of educational content and exceptional skill at program delivery.”