Homeschool at Sea

Ever wonder how we know about dolphin intelligence, the teamwork of hermit crabs, or the migration of birds? It’s by observing and studying animal behavior! Grab your binoculars and join us to discover behaviors exhibited by creatures big and small – from intricate communication patterns to complex social structures. This week, we’re focusing on how animals think, communicate, adapt, and interact with their environment.

Knowing who eats who is a big part of marine science. To truly understand the dynamic relationships between marine life – from teeny tiny plankton to hungry ocean giants – we must know how energy flows through marine ecosystems. Food webs have a massive impact on biodiversity and animal resilience. If one link is lost, there can be a cascading effect on the rest of the ecosystem. We’ll explore local interactions and think critically about human impact on food webs.

Ages 4 - 10:  Habitats

A habitat is the natural home or environment of a plant, animal, or other organism. It provides the organisms that live there with food, water, shelter, and space to survive. Habitats consist of both living and non-living factors. This week, we’ll focus on specific marine habitats: seagrass beds, mangroves, the swash zone, and the sandbar! Students will learn what lives in these habitats and why. 

Ages 10 and Up: Climate Change 

Climate change is the greatest threat to our planet and the marine world. Join us to explore the science behind greenhouse gases and global temperatures and discover impacts on ecosystems, weather patterns, and local marine life. Look forward to engaging in discussions, real-world examples, and interactive projects. Together, we’ll explore solutions, both local and global, and empower ourselves to make a positive impact on the planet. 

Predators and prey have been caught in a timeless dance of survival. As one adapts, so does the other. This week, we’ll explore Sanibel to find real-world examples and hopefully observe predators employing hunting strategies while prey tries to evade capture. Maybe we’ll see an Osprey swooping down to catch a fish, or perhaps we’ll see fish leaping out of the water to escape a dolphin’s jaws. Join us to find out!

This week is all about anatomy! We’ll focus on specific marine creatures, and each class will include a dissection (optional, of course!). Join us to connect the dots between form and function in the marine world. The animals of interest are squid, fish – including sharks, and crabs!

Marine ecology is the study of how marine life interacts with their environment, each other, and the physical and chemical properties of the ocean. It combines biology with physical sciences like chemistry and geology. We will learn about research methods in this field and use a few tools ourselves: quadrats, transects, calipers, and more!

Did you know Sanibel Sea School does not allow plastic water bottles on its campus? Instead, we ask everyone to bring reusable bottles, or we’ll provide them if students don’t have one. Marine debris and plastics have devastating impacts on the ocean and marine life. But there’s plenty that we can do to help! Join us to learn about local and global marine pollution, uncover the root causes, and understand the consequences. We’ll focus on the five Rs of waste management – Refuse, Reduce, Reuse, Repurpose, and Recycle.

The art of camouflage in nature is fascinating! Plants and animals blend seamlessly into their surroundings to evade predators or sneak up on prey. The marine world is full of creatures hiding in plain sight… you just have to know where to look. We’re heading to the beach this week to find the marine masters of disguise. 

Sanibel is full of exciting reptiles to discover, from slithering snakes to graceful sea turtles. This week, we’re focusing on the diversity, adaptations, and behaviors that define these ancient creatures. We promise close encounters with Sanibel Sea School’s resident reptiles: Steve – the blue tongue skink, Emerald – the veiled chameleon, and Pepper – the corn snake! Then, we’ll head out to find wild reptiles all over the island. 

This week, we will explore the vast and diverse spineless world beneath the sea. There is so much to discover, from regenerating sea stars to elusive bioluminescent worms! Marine invertebrates have evolved ingenious survival approaches, interesting symbiotic relationships, and remarkable reproductive strategies. These courses will explore these often overlooked yet essential marine creatures.

Water quality refers to water's physical, chemical, and biological characteristics. Depending on the source and use of the water being tested, different variables and requirements are necessary to determine the “health” of the water. This week, we’ll sample freshwater and saltwater samples. Students will learn to use equipment to look at temperature, pH, turbidity, dissolved oxygen, salinity, and more! We’ll keep it super simple for our youngest learners. We’ll also cover our champions of water quality in the estuary: oysters!