MARITIME GLOUCESTER FEBRUARY VACATION EXPLORATION
Register online here or call 978-281-0470
All programs are run on-site in our classroom, 23 Harbor Loop, Gloucester, MA
$10 per session for Non-Members, $5 for Members
PreK – 1st Grade Programs, 10:00-11:30
Parents/Guardians Required
Tuesday, February 17 – Shipwreck Detectives
Our marine science classroom has become the site of a mysterious shipwreck: what can you learn from its artifacts? Children will become marine detectives as they search for clues and explore our giant shipwreck mat. What can they discover about the ship and its passengers? A variety of fun activities will be offered as we learn about marine exploration and shipwrecks in New England. We’ll fish for facts and learn about boats in Gloucester Harbor through a fun story.
Wednesday, February 18 – Frozen Crystals: Exploring Ice and Snow
Does this time of year have you thinking of ice and snow? Explore the science of all things frozen! Make your own saltwater paintings and watch shimmering crystal patterns appear. Turn an ordinary sock into a toy seal, walrus, or beluga whale. We’ll learn about coldwater creatures, Arctic and Antarctic exploration, and snowy habitats!
Thursday, February 19 – Submarines and Sea Creatures
Imagine you’re exploring the deep sea in a submarine. What strange sights and sea creatures do you see? Children will create their own paper portholes, submarine windows to underwater scenes. We’ll touch and hold live sea creatures from Gloucester Harbor and then create our own deep sea animals for the portholes. Through a story about Jacques Cousteau, we’ll learn how scuba divers explore the ocean.
2nd – 5th Grade Drop-Off Programs, 1:00-2:30
Free Maritime Movies for Participants, 2:30-3:30
Tuesday, February 17 – Shipwrecks and Maritime Archeology
Become a maritime archeologist and search for clues as we explore our giant shipwreck mat! As you examine each paper artifact, what can you learn about the ship and its passengers? Where did the ship come from? When did it sink? Through a variety of fun activities, we’ll learn about the famous shipwrecks of New England and the tools and techniques for exploring these undersea sites. Children are encouraged to stay afterwards to watch Ghosts of the Abyss, a documentary about the wreck of the Titanic.
Wednesday, February 18 – Polar Explorers and Icy Experiments
What did explorers find on Arctic and Antarctic expeditions? What kinds of creatures have adapted to freezing temperatures? Students will learn all about ice through a variety of icy experiments, challenges, and projects. Using a variety of ice shapes, build an ice tower as high as you can. Paint a snowy scene with saltwater and watch crystals appear. Children are encouraged to stay afterwards to watch The Blue Planet: Frozen Seas, a nature documentary about polar sea creatures.
Thursday, February 19 – Mapping the Deep
The deep sea is no easy place to explore. What strange creatures lurk in the depths? How can we learn about the shape of the seafloor? Through fun activities, we’ll learn all about the various ways to explore the ocean floor. We’ll build a deep sea model in a box, complete with creatures and shipwrecks. Afterwards, we’ll measure ocean depth and surprising seafloor features without even looking in the box! Children are encouraged to stay afterwards to watch The Blue Planet: The Deep, a nature documentary about deep sea animals.
Good Morning Gloucester 