National Marine Aquarium School Trip

What better place to learn about wildlife than at the National Marine Aquarium, home to over 5000 animals! Our exhibit spaces are divided into local species, temperate waters and tropical reefs, allowing visitors to explore almost the entire ocean in just one visit. With options to explore behind the scenes and see how our Husbandry team care for the animals, and to tailor tours to your specific learning outcomes, there are so many ways the NMA can support your wildlife teaching.

During a careers tour, our Schools Officers will take your class on a fully guided tour of the working areas of the Aquarium, including the top of some of our most impressive exhibits and the offices of staff such as our CEO, finance, and marketing departments. Along the way, pupils will have the chance to hear directly from different staff including marine biologists, science communicators, retail and catering professionals, heads of department and seasonal staff to build a comprehensive picture of the many roles and skillsets found within this vibrant and dynamic STEM facility.

With both tour and workshop options available, there are many ways to make Biology the focus of your trip to the National Marine Aquarium. The animals and habitats in our exhibit spaces are an ideal way to teach your students about living things and the environment. We can tailor tours to meet different learning outcomes to suit your curriculum and have specific workshops with focus' such as evolution and habitats.

There are a variety of sessions to choose from to help bring Geography to life here at the National Marine Aquarium. We offer workshops which look at the cause and affect of global warming, plastic pollution and climate change. A specialist tour centred around sustainability of the Ocean includes discussions on governance, fishing practices and habitat restoration. Or why not book a boat trip, which puts the students in the heart of Plymouth Sound, the countries first ever National Marine Park!

Sustainability is at the heart of everything we do. Whether you have booked on for a tour or workshop that specifically focuses on an element of sustainability, or if you are just visiting for a fun day out, we will ensure your students leave inspired and empowered, knowing they have the ability to make a positive impact on our planet.

Engineering workshops give your students the chance to get hands on, collaborate and problem solve. Using real-world aquarium issues, they will need to design and build practical solutions which will then be put to the test. Can your students engineer a bridge that can hold members of the public over a shark tank? Or build a hoist that can lift a hammerhead shark out of its tank? Expect creativity, friendly competition, and imagination in these fun-filled workshops.

Based on the shores of the country's first ever National Marine Park, we have several outreach opportunities to get out of the classroom and to the seaside! Why not book a "Rediscover Rockpooling" session: using ID guides and expert advice, students will learn how to locate and safely handle a variety of rockpool organisms, whilst learning how they are best adapted to their intertidal habitat. Or if you're feeling really adventurous you could sail around the Marine Park on one of our science or humanities boat trips!

With a variety of amazing animals and habitats, there is no end of artistic inspiration available at the National Marine Aquarium. We offer a dedicated art tour, which will allow students to practice a different technique and media in each of the exhibit spaces. Our brand-new stop-motion animation workshop brings art, advocacy and storytelling together in a powerful and creative way. What will your students create?