We bring the ocean to you

CILC Pinnacle AwardIf you have a Zoom account*, microphone, webcam, and a valid email address, we can connect to you.

Mote virtual field trips are live, two-way, interactive experiences between your school or organization and our laboratory in Florida. We connect your audience to our STEM subject matter experts and engage their curiosity with science demonstrations and lively animal encounters. We can see and hear your learners and they can see and hear us via private, safe, interactive videoconferencing connections.

Our award-winning programs are based on the 60+ years of marine research at our lab. All programs are aligned with State and National Science standards and include free supplemental media and lesson plans. Options are available in 30 and 60 minute lengths for PreK-12th grades as well as Lifelong Learners. Our EdExploreSRQ listings are eligible for funding from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, as well as the Education Foundation of Sarasota County.

For more information about the programs below, contact:

EDUCATOR FREEVIEW

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We come to you live, from our distance learning studio featuring professional development opportunities for K-12 teachers and administrators.

Get a free preview of our award-winning virtual learning programs. A great way to introduce virtual learning to teachers and professionals. Go behind-the-scenes with SEA Trek and learn how to bring Mote's research, animals, and exhibits to your learners. Discover the many affordable, easy-to-use technology options available for making Virtual Field Trips.

  • Recommended for: Adult (College), Adult (School Teachers/Admins; etc), Adult (Public; Library; Senior Center; Lifelong Learning, etc.
  • Duration: up to 30 minutes
  • Price: $0 free
  • DETAILS

SEA Me Read

We read a storybook aloud with your learners and then engage in a learning segment to help build critical thinking skills, promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, STEM engagement, and reading comprehension.
Options for PK–4th grades. Up to 30 minutes.

Smiley Shark

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by Ruth Galloway

Join us on an ocean adventure and meet a lonely shark who loves to smile. Read along as we help him save the day and find some friends. We read this fictional story aloud with your students and then engage in a learning segment to help build critical thinking skills, promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, STEM engagement, and reading comprehension. Our thanks to Tiger Tales Publishing for making this lesson possible.

  • Recommended for Ages (Grades): 5–9 (K–3rd)
  • Duration: up to 30 minutes
  • Price: $90
  • DETAILS

Clumsy Crab

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by Ruth Galloway

Snip, snap, clip, clap! Nipper the Crab hates his huge clumsy claws. Read along with us as we find out how useful Clumsy’s claws can be. We read this fictional story aloud with your students and then engage in a learning segment to help build critical thinking skills, promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, STEM engagement, and reading comprehension. Our thanks to Tiger Tales Publishing for making this lesson possible. Made possible by a generous grant from the Kates Foundation.

  • Recommended for Ages (Grades): 5–9 (K–3rd)
  • Duration: up to 30 minutes
  • Price: $90
  • DETAILS

If A Dolphin Were A Fish

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by Loran Wlordarski and illustrated by Laurie Allen Klein

Join Delfina the dolphin as she imagines that she becomes other animals. Readers will watch Delfina become a fish with gills, a sea turtle laying eggs, a pelican with feathers, an octopus without bones, a shark with a sense of smell and even a vegetarian manatee. The incredible “morphing” illustrations will have children laughing as they learn about the real differences between these animals! Join us on this ocean adventure as we discover what makes a mammal a mammal and how creatures have adapted to live in the sea. We read this fictional story aloud with your students and then engage in a learning segment to help build critical thinking skills, promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, STEM engagement, and reading comprehension. A special thanks to Arbordale Publishing for making this lesson possible.

Alfie (The Turtle That Disappeared)

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by Thyra Heder

The night before Nia's seventh birthday, her turtle Alfie disappears. Where did he go? Go on an adventure and discover the friendship between a girl and her turtle—from both points of view. A warm and funny story that celebrates friendship through the seasons, even when those friends see the world very differently. We read this SEL-supportive, fictional story aloud with your students and then engage in a learning segment that helps build critical thinking skills, promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, STEM engagement, and reading comprehension. Our thanks to ABRAMS books and Thyra Heder for making this program possible.

  • Recommended for Ages (Grades): 5–9 (K–3rd)
  • Duration: up to 30 minutes
  • Price: $90
  • DETAILS

Shark Baby

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by Ann Downer and illustrated by Shennen Bersani

Spring into virtual learning and go on an ocean egg hunt with us. When Shark Baby’s egg case is torn loose in a storm, he goes on a journey across kelp forests, coral reefs, and seagrass meadows. He needs to find the “mermaid” to find out where he belongs. Will he find his way back? Read along with us to find out. We read this fictional story aloud with your students and then engage in a learning segment to help build critical thinking skills, promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, STEM engagement, and reading comprehension. A special thanks to Arbordale Publishing for making this lesson possible.

Otto the Otter: A Big Surprise

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by Linda Hansen

We are otterly ecstatic for otters! Celebrate these sleek and wonderful watershed creatures with a storybook about their underwater lives. Then virtually meet our North American river otters. A special thanks to Linda Hansen for making this lesson possible.

  • Recommended for Ages (Grades): 5–9 (K–3rd)
  • Duration: up to 30 minutes
  • Price: $90
  • DETAILS

Swimming With Sharks: The Daring Discoveries of Eugenie Clark

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by Heather Lang and illustrated by Jordi Solano

In the 1930s few people dared to explore the depths of the sea, and none were women. But Genie wasn’t afraid. Follow “the Shark Lady” as she uncovers the mysteries of the world’s most feared fish! We read this biographical story aloud with your students and then engage in a learning segment to help build critical thinking skills, promote oral language skills, fluency, pronunciation, STEM engagement, and reading comprehension. A special thanks to Albert Whitman and Co. for making this lesson possible.

CILC Hall of Fame AwardSEA Trek

Dive into our award-winning virtual learning programs. We come to you live for an interactive lesson using a combination of science gameshows, green screen effects and live animals. These programs will spark STEM curiosity while making conservation connections.

LIFE SCIENCE: Sharks

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How smart are you about sharks? Take our interactive quiz show to uncover the mysteries and discover the truths about these fascinating creatures. In this lesson we introduce the learners to the diversity and adaptations of sharks.

LIFE SCIENCE: Fish

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Take a virtual excursion to Mote Aquarium and meet some fishy friends. Compare and contrast the specialized structures of bony fish versus cartilaginous sharks through a simulated dissection. Explore the economic and environmental importance of fish to humans and the stewardship actions needed to conserve threatened species.

  • Recommended for Ages (Grades): 08–11 (3rd–5th)
  • Duration: up to 60 minutes
  • Price: $180
  • DETAILS

LIFE SCIENCE: Sea Turtles

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Learners participate in a interactive video lesson about sea turtles through a guided game show format. This is followed by an open Q&A chat with our ocean expert. Students will learn about general reptile characteristics and the different species of sea turtles. Student will also learn where sea turtles live and nest and their basic adaptations to marine life. Finally students will learn why sea turtles are threatened and what conservation measures are being taken to protect them.

LIFE SCIENCE: Manatees

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Do you know how to train a 3000-pound relative of the elephant? Find out how Mote Marine Laboratory cares for manatees, and learn how big and smart these animals are. Students will learn the basic characteristics of mammals and the adaptations of manatees. Students will also learn how our biologist care for manatees and what conservation efforts are being made for wild populations.

SEA SCIENCE: Coral Reefs

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Why are coral reefs important? Discover the value of coral reefs to wildlife and how important they are to people too. Through a guided game format, learners participate in a media-rich, interactive video lesson about coral reefs. This is followed by an open Q&A chat with our ocean expert.

SEA SCIENCE: Marine Careers

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Students will learn about marine science and aquarium careers and what it takes to work in these fascinating fields. Featured topics can include: shark research, animal husbandry, sea turtle nest monitoring, manatee training and research, coral reef research and restoration, behind the scenes at Mote's cephalopod Lab and much more!

Beginning in 1955 with Dr. Eugenie Clark’s foundation of shark research, Mote is now more than 200 employees strong, including more than 30 Ph.D. scientists. We conduct groundbreaking research with more than 20 diverse research programs focusing on today’s challenges as well as identifying and addressing future impacts. The advancement of this kind of research is vital to unlocking potential solutions to some of today’s most daunting global challenges.

  • Recommended for Ages (Grades): Recommended for ages 11–14 (grades 6–8). Can be differentiated for ages 8-10 or 15-18+ or lifelong learners.
  • Duration: up to 60 minutes
  • Price: $180
  • DETAILS

SEA SCIENCE: How to Train Your Shark

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Dive into our aquarium for a simulated shark training session.. This lesson is focused on shark research at Mote Marine Laboratory. Using a combination of pre-recorded and live shark cam video, we go on a virtual tour of our 135,000 shark habitat. After an overview of shark husbandry and training, we discuss the research technology we use to study sharks. We end with a Question and Answer session with our Ocean Expert.

  • Booking note: This program is available on-demand, anytime.
  • Recommended for Ages (Grades): 08–18 (3rd–12th)
  • Duration: up to 30 minutes
  • Price: $90
  • DETAILS

TOUR: Manatee Habitat (outdoors)

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Find out the favorite foods of Hugh and Buffett, our resident manatees, as we visit them during feeding time. We use our portable distance learning studio to get you up close from atop our 75,000 gallon habitat. This tour is focused on manatee husbandry at Mote. You talk with our aquarium biologist and learn about these amazing marine mammals. We review the history of manatee research at Mote then watch them get fed. We end with a Question and Answer session with our Ocean Experts.

  • Booking note: This outdoor tour is available on Wednesdays or Fridays, between 9:00 am–9:30 am ET or 11:00–11:30 am ET. Please make your requests at least three weeks in advance.
  • Recommended for Ages (Grades): 08–18 (3rd–12th)
  • Duration: up to 30 minutes
  • Price: $200
  • DETAILS
  • ❇️ Free Flipgrid lesson

TOUR: Goodnight Aquarium (outdoors)

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Say goodnight to your favorite sea creatures as we virtually visit them after our aquarium closes. Get up close and personal, and learn about their habitats, behaviors, and conservation efforts. This virtual tour is led by Mote's knowledgeable and passionate guides who are excited to share their love of the ocean with you. They'll be available to answer any questions you may have and provide insight into the amazing creatures you'll see on the tour. So why wait? Book your virtual aquarium tour today and discover the magic of the underwater world from the comfort of your own home!

  • Booking note: This tour is only available weekdays between 5:30pm–7:30pm ET (after our aquarium closes). Please make your requests at least three weeks in advance.
  • Recommended for Ages (Grades): All ages
  • Duration: up to 45 minutes
  • Price: $200
  • Program Guide

EdExploreSRQ

Attention Sarasota Teachers!

Bring learning to life with explorations from Mote Marine Laboratory. Our EdExploreSRQ listings are eligible for funding from the Community Foundation of Sarasota County, as well as the Education Foundation of Sarasota County. Find out how to fund your virtual field trip.

Explore “The Bay” with Mote

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Go on a lively journey with Mote as we explore and learn more about local habitats and adaptations during a virtual visit to the new “Bay Project.” This interactive science exploration will take you virtually to "The Bay" to learn more about this community park. During this class students will be transformed into scientists to learn how to use tools and to make observations. Students will learn what it's like to be a scientist while investigating plants, animals, and the bay environment along the way. Each student will be provided with a Field Guide to follow along and take notes.

  • Recommended for Ages (Grades): Recommended for ages 5–11 (K–5th)
  • Duration: up to 30 minutes
  • Price: Available for free to Sarasota classrooms thanks to the generosity of the Community Foundation of Sarasota County through The Bay. All others, $90.
  • DETAILS
  • ❇️ Free Flipgrid lesson

How to Connect

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Recommended technology for SEA Trek

We want to make this the best experience possible for you. Request a free Tech Check and we will test your connectivity, audio and video. We can also give you a brief preview of our award-winning lessons.

We recommend connecting via Zoom but you also have the option of Microsoft Teams, WebEx, Google Meets, FaceTime or whatever works best for you. We can provide a free courtesy Zoom link from our account when you book with us. However, you are welcome to use your own account and invite us as a Panelist instead. If we meet via Mote's Zoom account, we can set it up as a fully interactive session for up to 99 participants, or as a non-interactive, webinar-style connection for up to 500 participants. You are only charged per booking, not per participant.

What You Need to Connect

  1. Device (Computer, iPad, phone).
  2. Ability to connect via Zoom, Webex, Skype or similar technologies.
  3. Webcam.
  4. Speaker/microphone or headset mic.
  5. Internet connection — Hard connection preferred.
  6. DETAILS

Sarasota teachers - ask your school TSP for help. They have cameras and equipment available to help you connect successfully!

Cancellation & Billing

Effective 8/15/2023, the following policies apply to ALL Mote Outreach (Classroom, Auditorium, Science Talks, Exploration Stations) and SEA Trek programs. For invoicing questions, please contact our Operations & Administration Manager (educate@mote.org, 941-388-4441;348).


History

Mote Marine Laboratory participated in distance learning demonstrations as early as 1994, allowing learners at sites as far away as England to drive an underwater drone in Mote Aquarium's shark habitat. In 1996, Mote began its own distance learning program, bringing high-energy, multimedia science lessons right into the classroom using interactive video technology. Our lessons feature the research of actual scientists working at the lab with interviews showing how their interests led them to their careers.

SEA Trek has received numerous accolades and awards over its twenty year history, including numerous Pinnacle Awards. The Pinnacle Award is given annually by the Center for Interactive Learning and Collaboration to organizations that receive outstanding scores on program evaluations submitted by educators. The award recognizes remarkable quality of educational content and exceptional skill at program delivery. We thank all of our customers for their support in making this possible. In 2017, Mote received the Interactive Video Conference Content Provider Award from the International Society for Technology in Education. In 2020, Mote Marine Laboratory was inducted into the first annual CILC Pinnacle Hall of Fame Award for Content Providers, recognizing us for for over 10 years of quality programming.

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