National Marine Aquarium Plymouth To Provide Free Online Lessons

Whether you have your own fascinating marine aquarium, or you have an interest in sea life, the National Marian Aquarium Plymouth has begun broadcasting a series of free, live lessons, which are ideal for helping parents with homeschooling, as well as helping everyone gain some of the wellbeing benefits that have been proven from watching aquatic life.

According to the Cornish Times, the National Marine Aquarium Plymouth will be broadcasting two special shows every Friday during the lockdown on the aquarium’s YouTube channel.

The first of which, 'Deep Science' (1 pm - 1.20 pm) saw the Aquarium's own Schools Team using aquarium exhibits and lab facilities to explore the science behind the animated ocean exploration tv series 'The Deep' (CBBC, noon on weekdays during lockdown).

The themes for each week are:

15 January - Underwater Volcanoes

22 January - Creature Classification

29 January - Nautical Navigation

5 February - Ocean Mysteries

12 February - Megafauna

19 February - Life Cycles

26 February - Looking after the Ocean

'Mermaid Tales' will air from 1.30 to 1.45 pm and will involve a short story narrated by the Aquarium's resident mermaid, Marina.

Stu Higgs, the Schools Programme Manager for the Ocean Conservation Trust, said that with the news of further school closures hitting the headlines in the New Year, the aquarium wanted to do its bit to support the thousands of students and teachers who visit the aquarium annually.

“Research has shown that encounters with marine environments (physical or virtual) have a powerful effect on our emotional state and general wellbeing, and with the country in lockdown there has never been a more important time to ensure everyone has access to a weekly dose of ocean.” He said.

“Whether you're looking for something to round your week off with a bang, or help you wind down for the weekend, our new Youtube live lessons series should hit the spot.”

The content of the lessons will also help children to feel part of the start of the global UN Decade of Ocean Science for sustainable development.

The aquarium has also begun offering personalised virtual tours to help keep families entertained at home, which while not free, will help boost funds for conservation and education during the latest lockdown.

Virtual visitors can take a one-hour-tour with the Ocean Discovery Rangers to explore the whole ocean, from the rocky coastlines of Devon all the way around the world to the Great Barrier Reef, as well as getting VIP access to the top of the Atlantic Ocean Exhibit, and a chance to meet some of the National Marine’s Aquarium’s most popular residents.

Nicola Bridge, Head of Conservation Education and Communications, said: “Our Facebook Lives from the tanks have proved so popular that we are launching exclusive virtual tours for families where they can ask any burning questions and interact with our rangers in their own time, just like a real visit to the aquarium.”

The virtual tours are available daily between 3 pm and 4 pm and costs £79.99. It includes all three zones of the aquarium, the first including local coasts and rock pools, to the marine life that can be found in the seas around the UK, the second exhibit houses the inhabitants of the Atlantic Ocean, and the third region covers tropical reefs.

Visit https://www.national-aquarium.co.uk/events/aquarium-virtual-tours/ for more information.

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