Monterey Bay Aquarium
886 Cannery Row
Monterey, California 93940
Driving & Parking Directions

Regular Hours
10 a.m.–6 p.m. Daily
Closed Dec. 25

Summer (May 26–Sept. 1)
9:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

Summer Weekends
(July 5–Sept. 1) Sat. & Sun.
9:30 a.m.–8:00 p.m.

Holidays
9:30 a.m.–6 p.m.

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World of Sharks

(Grade 3-6, Age 8-11)

Imagine taking a journey around the world to view sharks and the cultural traditions they inspire! World of Sharks provides this kind of integrated experience as your students visit and complete complementary standards-based classroom activities. Designed for school groups who have reserved a World of Sharks program, families and teachers and students who do not visit the aquarium may use the activities to learn about sharks.

While at the aquarium, students observe sharks in their habitats and imagine their own ecotours to highlight sharks, cultural experiences and conservation efforts. Through pre-visit and post-visit classroom activities, students learn about shark behaviors and discover some misconceptions about sharks.

Download the Complete Activity Guide (26 pgs)

Grade Level: 3-6

California Science Standards

Teacher Activity Guide Contents

	Pre-Visit	At the Aquarium	Post-Visit

Teaching Unit Overview and Shark Information (4 pgs) An overview of the activities in this teaching unit and background information about sharks.

Shark Journal (2 pgs) Students explore Sharks: Myth & Mystery on the web site. They imagine that they are planning ecotours to regions represented. They record observations in their journals about animals and cultural experiences they would like to feature on their ecotours. Standards

Shark Surveys (3 pgs) Students create a survey to find out what people think about sharks, their sizes and reputations. After doing research, they sort facts from opinions. Standards

What's in a Name? (6 pgs) Students identify common and scientific shark names. Using a prefix and suffix chart, they analyze the genus and species names of specific sharks and create shark drawings based on the meanings. Standards

Myth-try Cards (5 pgs) After making shark observations, students select sharks and write myths about their physical structures or behaviors. They provide a possible scientific explanation for these adaptations or the animal's role in a diverse habitat. Standards

Shark Cartoons (3 pgs) Using information they have compiled about sharks, students draw cartoons that contain a conservation message. Standards

Online Resources

Shark Animal Fact Cards Printable animal fact cards for sharks and rays	Meet the Sharks Photos and information about the nearly two dozen shark species	Animal Field Guide Online field guide of marine animals and plants with photos, diet, range, habitat and conservation notes

Video Library Short video clips of shark movement and feeding to watch online	Sharks & Rays Online resources include shark myths and stories from seven different cultures	Sea Searchers Handbook: Sharks and Rays Chapter More shark information and activities including a sample shark survey

Create a Shark Cartoon Activity Learn techniques for drawing a shark cartoon	Shark Conservation Learn about what threatens sharks in the wild and what we can do to help save them	Fishing Methods Information about fishing methods, threats to ocean animals and healthy seafood choices

Shark FAQs Frequently asked questions about sharks	Live Web Cams Watch and observe sharks and many different kind of fish on our live Kelp Forest and Outer Bay web cams.	Habitat Posters Six color printable natural history posters with standards based classroom activities. Themes are Kelp Forest, Rocky Shore, Sandy Beach, Wetlands, Deep Sea and Coral Reef.

California Science Standards

Shark Journal	Grade 3: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5e Grade 4: 2b, 3a, 3b, 6a, 6c, 6f Grade 5: 6g, 6h, 6i Grade 6: 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 6b, 7d, 7e

Shark Surveys	Grade 3: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 3e, 5a, 5b, 5d, 5e Grade 4: 2b, 3a, 3b, 6a, 6d Grade 5: 6b, 6c, 6g, 6h, 6i Grade 6: 5c, 5d

What's in a Name?	Grade 3: 3a, 3b, 5e Grade 4: 3a, 3b, 6a Grade 5: 6a Grade 6: 5d

Myth-try Cards	Grade 3: 3a, 3b, 3c, 3d, 5b, 5e Grade 4: 2a, 2b, 2c, 3a, 3b, 3c, 6a Grade 5: 2b, 2c, 6a, 6g, 6i Grade 6: 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e, 7a, 7d, 7e

Shark Cartoons	Grade 3: 3a, 3c, 3d, 5b Grade 4: 2b, 3a, 3b, 6a Grade 5: 2c, 6h Grade 6: 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 5e

Inspiring conservation of the oceans

World of Sharks

(Grade 3-6, Age 8-11)

Download the Complete Activity Guide (26 pgs)

Teacher Activity Guide Contents

Teaching Unit Overview and Shark Information

Shark Journal

Shark Surveys

What's in a Name?

Myth-try Cards

Shark Cartoons

Online Resources

California Science Standards

Shark Journal

Shark Surveys

What's in a Name?

Myth-try Cards

Shark Cartoons