When you actually visit the aquarium take a guided tour.  When you get to the exhibits your children researched encourage them to ask questions. (If the aquarium doesn’t have a guided tour, it probably has presentations where your kids can ask their questions.)  Be sure to allow your children time to go back and study the exhibits that interested them.  We adults tend to rush through places like aquariums, zoos, and even theme parks. ;o)   Remember that its not how much you do, but the quality of what you do.

Pictures that Sam and Susie drew after visiting Monterey Bay Aquarium

When you get home challenge your kids to write about the creatures and environments they found interesting.  Have them draw pictures or make collages from the internet or magazines to illustrate their stories.  Encourage them to take their stories and pictures to school for show and tell or to ask their teacher if they can do an oral report on their research for extra credit.

Jellies at Monterey Bay Aquarium

Since we visit the Monterey Bay Aquarium each year I plan to try the plan I outlined above next summer.  Sam and Susie already enjoy the aquarium and hopefully using a little entertainment (Finding Nemo) and a little educational research (using the aquarium’s website) will make the experience more enlightening.  If you try my (actually Beth Moran’s :o) idea please let me know how it works out.