Taichung Aquarium launches 'Ocean Education Train' for elementary schools

The Taichung Aquarium is set to launch its "Ocean Education Train" initiative, a program designed to bring marine life directly into elementary school classrooms. Starting in October and running through December, the program will feature live jellyfish exhibits and microscopic observations, traveling to schools in the Taichung, Changhua, and Nantou regions. This initiative aims to provide accessible marine education, particularly for students in mountainous areas like Heping and Dongshi, who face significant travel and cost barriers for traditional field trips.

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The Taichung Aquarium's 'Ocean Education Train' allows students to touch jellyfish in the tank.

Registration for the "Ocean Education Train" is now open and will continue until August 31, the start of the academic year. The program has previously reached 15 elementary schools over the past two years, educating a total of 1,115 students. For the upcoming sessions, the aquarium is offering eight distinct slots, emphasizing quality over quantity. To ensure an optimal learning experience, each session is capped at 60 students. This limit allows for close-up interaction with the jellyfish exhibits and microscopes, preventing overcrowding and enhancing student engagement and comprehension.

The curriculum is built around the hydrological environment of Taichung, following the aquarium's main exhibition theme: "From Taichung's Rivers to the World's Oceans." The program utilizes a self-illustrated picture book, "Little Stone's Fantastic Journey," which begins with a small stone from the Dajia River, Taichung's mother river. The narrative follows the stone's journey downstream, encountering endangered species like the blotched snakehead fish and the Taiwan minnow, as well as the Taiwan white-dolphin found in the waters off Taichung.

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The 'Ocean Education Train' brings live jellyfish exhibits to elementary school classrooms.

During the "Ocean Education Train" sessions, aquarium staff will demonstrate how jellyfish feed, using brine shrimp as their meal, and guide students in comparing different species like the moon jellyfish and the queen jellyfish. A key component of the program is a hands-on jellyfish touching experience. The aquarium champions this approach, believing that direct sensory experience, rather than just identification through glass, fosters a deeper understanding and appreciation of marine life. This tactile interaction aims to teach students the value of different life forms and encourage a respectful attitude towards marine creatures.

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The key to the touching segment is to help students understand the value of different forms of life and learn to treat marine life with a friendly attitude.

The entire educational package is designed in accordance with Taiwan's 12-year compulsory education curriculum, focusing on competency-based learning. Each session lasts approximately 80 minutes, aligning with the United Nations Sustainable Development Goal 14: "Life Below Water." The aquarium will provide teachers with lesson plans and student worksheets for extended learning activities. The program is open to elementary schools in Taichung, Changhua, and Nantou, targeting students in grades 3 to 6. Schools will be notified of their acceptance via email by September 15. Priority will be given to schools actively promoting marine and outdoor sustainability education.

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The Taichung Aquarium's 'Ocean Education Train' uses a dropper to feed jellyfish.