Classes at the Aquarium

Lessons to choose from (Grades 1 to 3)

The following lessons are available to book either online or as an off-site lesson.

Life in Rock Pools: We look at the variety of animals we find in our rockpools. We then discuss their structures and their adaptability to their surrounding environment. We also learn about the effects of pollution on our marine animals.

Fish: Do fish have the same senses as us? How are they able to live in water? We also look at some strange fish, e.g. devil firefish, pipe fish and sea horses.

Sharks (Grades 2 & 3): This fun lesson focuses on the most misunderstood animal of the ocean: the shark. The learners are taught about the structure of these animals, their feeding patterns, and any fun facts about sharks.

Curriculum links

Rocky shores:

• Animals (wild animal types)
• Animals and creatures that live in water
• Pollution

Animal habitats:

• Animals (wild animal types)
• Animals and creatures that live in water

Sharks:

• Animals (wild animal types)
• Animals and creatures that live in water
• Pollution

Other skills learned from all of these lessons:

• Listening skills
• Counting skills
• Shapes and sizes

Lessons to choose from (Grades 4 to 6)

The following lessons are available to book either online or as an off-site lesson.

Life in rock pools: An introduction to the Aquarium and the two oceans around South Africa. We look at the names and adaptations of sea urchins, sea anemones and sea stars. This lesson is adapted according to the Grade that this lesson is booked for (see the ‘Curriculum links’ tab below). 

Skeletons and structures: This lesson centres on rock pool animals and other animals in the Aquarium, investigating their skeletons or mode of support and how they perform locomotion. Animals used for investigation can include sea anemones, sea urchins, sea snails and hermit crabs. Arthropod exoskeletons and vertebrate skeletons are referred to as examples.

Sharks: This topic explores the history of sharks as members of the fish family, studies their adaptations to their marine environment (shape, fins, gills, skin, senses) and highlights shocking shark population statistics, and the need for shark conservation.

Fish: How do we know that an animal is a fish? Focusing on bony fish as a group of fish we look at their key characteristics e.g. fins, gills, streamlined shape etc. We also explore the importance of fish as a source of food and the importance of conserving them.

Curriculum links

Life in rock pools

Grade 4 | Term 1:

• Living and non-living concepts
• Life processes
• Structure of animals
• Adaptations, senses
• Seaweeds
• Animal habitats
• Social Science Term 4: Waste water pollution

Grade 5 | Term 1:

• Plants and animals (marine)
• Plant and animal interdependence
• Vertebrate and invertebrate differences
• Marine food chain/food web
• Social Science Term 2: SA map, east and west coast
• Social Science Term 3: SA natural vegetation and wildlife

Grade 6 | Term 1:

• Different types of ecosystems
• Food webs
• Threats to ecosystems
• Living and non-living examples

Skeletons and structures:

Grade 5 | Term 1:

• Plant and animal interdependence
• Different kinds of animals
• Vertebrates and invertebrates
• Animal skeletons and importance
• How animals move (muscles, joints, bones)

Sharks:

Grade 4:

• Shark adaptations and senses

Grade 5:

• Animal interdependence
• Marine food web
• Shark skeleton structure

Grade 6:

• Marine food web
• Social Science: trade, resources and value

Lessons to choose from (Grades 7 to 9)

The following lessons are available to book either online or as an off-site lesson.

Basic Biodiversity: The lesson introduces the two oceans around South Africa and some of the ecosystems in the Aquarium. This is followed by a study of some rock pool animals to establish their life processes, how tides affect them, principles of classification and general biodiversity.

Marine sustainability: The lesson introduces three themes critical to South Africa and the management of healthy coasts and marine resources. These themes are biodiversity, HIPPO, seafood sustainability, and marine and coastal pollution.

Rocky shore ecology: This lesson introduces typical South African rocky shores in terms of tides, abiotic and biotic factors affecting the distribution of seaweeds and animals, zonation patterns and the organisms that can be encountered in these habitats. A variety of intertidal animals and seaweeds are referred to in this lesson.

Sharks: This topic explores the history of sharks as members of the fish family, studies their adaptations to their marine environment (shape, fins, gills, skin, senses) and highlights shocking shark population statistics and the need for shark conservation.

Fish: How do we know that an animal is a fish? Focusing on bony fish as a group of fish we look at their key characteristics e.g. fins, gills, streamlined shape etc. We also explore the importance of fish as a source of food and the importance of conserving them.

Curriculum links

Biodiversity:

Grade 7 | Term 1 |Natural Sciences:

• Biosphere concept
• Life processes
• Examples of animals in each biosphere
• What is biodiversity
• Basic classification
• Types of diversity
• Species diversity

Grade 7 |Social Sciences:

• Term 1: Map skills and orientation
• Term 4:
  • Natural resources
  • Marine resource management
  • Concept of conservation
  • Ecotourism

Grade 8 | Term 1 |Natural Sciences:

• Ecosystems
• Food chains and food webs
• Animal adaptations
• Ecosystem conservation

Grade 8 |Social Sciences:

• Term 1: Map skills and satellite images
• Term 2: Factors affecting SA temperature, rainfall, ocean currents
• Term 4: urbanisation

Grade 9 | Term 1 |Natural Sciences:

• Spheres of the biosphere
• Lithosphere, atmosphere, hydrosphere

Grade 9 |Social Sciences:

• Term 1: Reading information from a map
• Term 3: Resource use, sustainable use of resources (overfishing, sustainable fishing)

Marine Sustainability:

Grade 7 |Social Sciences:

• Term 1: Map skills and orientation
• Term 4:
  • Natural resources
  • Marine resource management
  • Concept of conservation
  • Ecotourism

Grade 8 | Term 1 |Natural Sciences:

• Ecosystems
• Food chains and food webs
• Animal adaptations
• Ecosystem conservation

Grade 8 |Social Sciences:

• Term 1: Map skills and satellite images
• Term 2: Factors affecting SA temperature, rainfall, ocean currents

Grade 9 |Social Sciences:

• Term 2: Sustainable development (economic, social and environmental factors)
• Term 4: Resource use, sustainable use of resources (overfishing, sustainable fishing)

Rocky shore ecology:

Grade 7 |Social Sciences:

• Term 1: Map skills and orientation
• Term 4:
  • Natural resources
  • Marine resource management
  • Concept of conservation
  • Ecotourism

Grade 8 | Term 1 |Natural Sciences:

• Ecosystems
• Food chains and food webs
• Animal adaptations
• Ecosystem conservation

Grade 8 |Social Sciences:

• Term 1: Map skills and satellite images
• Term 2: Factors affecting SA temperature, rainfall, ocean currents

Lessons to choose from (Grade 10 to 12)

The following lessons are available to book either online, or as an off-site lesson.

Marine invertebrates: What is an invertebrate? Join us in learning more about some of the major marine invertebrate Phyla e.g., Porifera, Cnidaria, Platyhelminthes, Arthropods and more. We will unpack the origin of the phyla name, key characteristics of each group including, symmetry, tissue layers and terms such as cephalisation, through gut and coelomate using live footage recorded in the aquarium and under our microscope. 

Marine sustainability: The lesson introduces three themes critical to South Africa and the management of healthy coasts and marine resources. These themes are: biodiversity, HIPPO, seafood sustainability, and marine and coastal pollution.

Rocky shore ecology: Explore a typical west coast South African rocky shore ecosystem, starting with defining an ecosystem and identifying challenges facing animals and plants found in these areas. We will look at the abiotic and biotic factors affecting the distribution of seaweeds and animals, zonation patterns and the organisms that can be encountered on our rocky shores. A variety of intertidal animals and seaweeds are referred to in this lesson.

Marine Biodiversity: The lesson introduces the two oceans around South Africa and some of the ecosystems in the Aquarium. This is followed by a study of some rock pool animals to establish their life processes, how tides affect them, principles of classification and general biodiversity.

Curriculum links

Marine invertebrates:

Grade 10 | Term 2 |Life Sciences:

• Support systems in animals
• different kinds of skeletons, advantages and disadvantages

Grade 10 | Term 4 |Life Sciences:

• Classification system

Grade 11 | Term 1 |Life Sciences:

• Diversity
• Change and Continuity
• Biodiversity and Classification
• Invertebrate phyla

Grade 10 | Term 2 |Marine Sciences:

• Evolutionary trends
• body plans and symmetry
• Basic classification

Grade 10 | Term 3 & 4 |Marine Sciences:

• Porifera
• Cnidaria
• Platyhelminthes
• Annelids
• Arthropods

Grade 11 | Term 3 & 4 |Marine Sciences:

• Molluscs
• Bryozoa
• Echinoderms

Sharks:

Grade 10 & 10:

No specific curriculum links, however can be chosen as an awareness lesson/talk.

Grade 12 | Term 1 |Marine Sciences:

• Osteichthyes
• Chondrichthyes

Marine sustainability:

Grade 10 | Term 4 | Life Sciences:

• Biodiversity definition
• Endemic and indigenous species

Grade 11 | Term 4 | Life Sciences:

• Human Impact on the environment
• Loss of biodiversity

Grade 10 | Term 4 | Geography:

• oceans as sources of oxygen, food, and energy
• ocean circulation – warm and cold currents
• ocean currents and their importance for fishing, trade, and tourism
• relationship between oceans and people: pollution, overfishing and desalination
• strategies for managing the world’s oceans

Grade 10 | Term 4 | Marine Sciences:

• HIPPO

Grade 11 | Term 1 | Marine Sciences:

• Harvesting marine resources

Grade 11 | Term 4 | Marine Sciences:

• Overfishing
• SASSI
• Marine protected areas
• ecotourism

Grade 10 | Term 3 | Tourism:

• Tourist Attractions in SA, Western Cape (World Heritage sites)
• SA fauna and flora as attractions
  • biodiversity
  • ecosystems
  • species
  • habitat
  • endangered, indigenous, alien, poaching
  • Sustainable and responsible tourism

Grade 12 | Term 3 | Tourism:

• Sustainable and Responsible Tourism
• Three pillars of responsible Tourism
• People, Profit and Planet
• Responsible tourism and responsible tourists

Rocky Shore Ecology:

Grade 10 | Term 3 | Life Sciences:

• Strand 3 Ecosystem studies
• Biosphere to Ecosystem
• What is Ecosystem
• Abiotic factors and biotic factors
• Energy flow through ecosystem

Grade 10 | Term 3 | Marine Sciences:

• Tides

Grade 11 | Term 3 & 4 | Marine Sciences:

• Rocky shore ecology

I Love Turtles

Hatch the Turtle still has a lot to learn about the world. On his way to the ocean, he meets Tinks the Tortoise. Together they learn about the differences between turtles and tortoises, but danger lurks as Tinks is stalked by Edgar the Eagle. Also meet Bella the wise old mommy turtle as she saves Hatch from marine debris.

Keep the Beach Clean

Sally the Seal mistakes a plastic bag for a squid and eats it. Meet Sally’s friends as they try to help her get the plastic bag out of her throat. The story not only has a happy ending, but also includes an important environmental message.

I Live Smart

Beauty and her friend Geo love spending time in nature. Join them on an adventurous visit to the Two Oceans Aquarium. Meet interesting sea creatures like clownfish, sharks, penguins and seals while learning about living smartly (saving water & electricity, biodiversity and waste).

My Wild Pets

In My Wild Pets, Beauty and Geo go on their latest adventure as they learn about the differences between pets and wild animals; about how to love, respect and care for all animals. We also learn about sea stars as we meet a sea star who journeys from the ocean to the Aquarium and in doing so becomes an ocean ambassador.

Water Cycle Adventure

Water Cycle Adventure follows Geo and his new friend Thalie, as they set off to learn about water. With the help of friends like Sunny the Sun, Fluffy the Cloud and Uncle Mthi the Big Old Tree they learn to appreciate water and make a vital discovery – that the Water Cycle and the Life Cycle are the same!

Wetlands, not Wastelands

In Wetlands, not Wastelands, children once again join characters Geo and Thalie to learn about the animals living in a South African wetland - Otis the Otter, Taahira the Toad and friends all have a message to share about life in the wetland. As always, story-loving Thalie shares a unique tale – of Plucky the Pelican who convinces Plastic Bag to stop being a bully and shows him ways to be more useful and friendly.