Classes and Field Trips

We are now booking for 2011-2012 field trips! Call the Roundhouse to get your class booked! Ask if your school qualifies for one of our grant-funded class discounts! Each year over 12,000 students participate in our educational programs. Teachers and students love our programs and look forward to their trips each year.

Click here to view evaluations from past program participants.
Click here to view letters from past program participants.

All our classes are aligned with state science standards. All of our programs are very flexible. If there is a special topic you’re covering in the classroom, we can accommodate you. If there’s a particular habitat, animal, or topic that you’re interested in, let us know. We can also teach fish and squid dissections with your class. We’ll be glad to mold our programs around your needs! Our staff has a diverse ocean science background, providing us with the expertise to teach your students about all aspects of marine science. Recently one of our instructors, Eric, was awarded the American Meteorological Society's award for Outstanding Non-formal Educator. Click on the Staff tab above to learn more about our award winning staff! To register for a class please call the aquarium at 310-379-8117 or email us at roundhouse.aquarium@verizon.net.

Program Descriptions

Marine Science and Environmental Education Field Trips – Grades Pre-K-12

3 hour class: Available from 9am-12pm

This is our most popular field trip, based on hands-on, experiential learning! Become familiar with the aquarium while you have it all to yourselves. Ask our expert teachers questions about the ocean and its inhabitants.

The program includes:

Aquarium exploration.
Pollution awareness.
Animal interaction.
Beach exploration.
Animal anatomy and behaviors.
Where sand comes from.
What belongs on our beaches.
Human ocean interactions, including the importance of being good ocean stewards.

Other activities such as food chain dress up and plankton tows can be incorporated based on your needs and your class level.

K-5 teachers: Make your trip a Key to the Sea field trip. Key to the Sea includes a free professional development workshop, a goodie bag, and some “extras” for your field trip. Click here

We have grant funding available to cover the cost of this program for many schools. Please see if you qualify for a grant funded class. If not, the cost of this program is $215 for up to 30 students, and $430 for 31-60 students. Call us to schedule your field trip today!

1 hour class: Available from 12pm-3pm (call for other scheduling options)

Great for younger students with shorter attention spans and older students with less time for field trips.

Also great for scout troops. We can adapt our program to meet your needs and help you earn a badge.

This program includes:

Aquarium exploration
Pollution awareness
Animal interactions

Students will learn the importance of taking care of the ocean environment, and ways they can help. They will become familiar with some local animals’ anatomy and behaviors.

We have grant funding available to cover the cost of this program for many schools. Please see if you qualify for a grant funded class. If not, the cost of this program is $5 per person with a $75 minimum. Call us to schedule your field trip today!

Tidepool Field Studies – Grades 1-12

3 hour off-site class: Available from 9am-12pm. Scheduling depends on the tides, so please call early to schedule this class.

Join the aquarium staff at White’s Point Tidepools! This program includes:

What causes tides..

Animals that live in the tidepools and their adaptations to the dynamic habitat.
Time to explore the tidepools!
Students will get to observe and learn about the organisms in their natural habitat.

Tidal Wave Outreach – Grades Pre K-12

If your class can’t get to us, don’t worry, we’ll come to you! We can bring our standard 1 hour program, including live animals to your school! We can also bring other specimens and artifacts, as well as posters, PowerPoint presentations, or dissections into your classroom. Let us know what you’d like to learn, and we’ll teach you!

We have grant funding available to cover the cost of this program for many schools. Please see if you qualify for a grant funded class. If not, the cost of this program is $275 for the first hour/class, and $50 for each additional hour/class. Other fees may apply due to distance, time, and program supplies, please call for more information. Schedule your outreach today!

Outreach programs are limited to schools within a 40 mile driving distance of the Roundhouse Aquarium.