MEGA-lodon sized fun for you and your little one! Join us as we explore the marine environment through imaginative play, STEM activities, songs, and more. We offer onsite and at home options for Shark Pups near, far, and everywhere!

Onsite Classes at Mote

Shark Pups & Grownups is an early childhood STEM program for kids ages 2 through 5 and their favorite adult. For our cooler months (January through March), these programs take place in an indoor classroom space. Each class includes: movement, sign language, science tool exploration, role play, games, and a take-home craft. When the weather warms up in April we’ll be back outside and exploring the bay with our immersive water time! Each month features a new theme to engage your Shark Pup, and each class is unique to allow families the opportunity to join us several times a month without repeating a class!

Who: Preschool (2-5) aged kids and their favorite adult
When: 9:30 to 10:30 a.m., select Saturdays
Fee: $20 for members, $22 for non-members per child (and one parent/guardian)

Please Note: Admission to Mote Aquarium is NOT included with this program. Please visit mote.org/visit for information and to reserve tickets.

PRE-REGISTRATION IS REQUIRED. All classes meet at the Whale Fountain at the entrance to The Aquarium. Be sure to read your confirmation email to know what to bring and wear to class. Please review our cancellation, weather, and health policies here before registering.

Winter Session (Indoor Classes)

These classes take place in our indoor classroom space, and include a take-home craft instead of water exploration. Please note: our sessions fill up quickly! For any full classes, you may add your family to the waitlist and we will contact you if space opens up.

REGISTER NOW

Mini Mote Scientists

Ever wondered what it’s like to study the ocean?  This month, become an honorary Mote scientist as we learn about two very important jobs - one that helps to take care of our aquarium animals and another that learns how to responsibly grow fish.

  • January 13 - Aquarium Keepers
  • January 27 - Fishin’ at the Farm

So Happy Together

Ocean animals sometimes make the best teammates!  Although these particular animals have no bones at all, marine sponges and sea jellies provide homes and protection for ocean critters big and small.  Join us this month to learn how!

  • February 10 - Super Sponges
  • February 24 - Jellyfish Jamboree

Marine Mammal Madness

This month we focus on the most charismatic marine mammals living right here in Sarasota Bay - Florida manatees and bottlenose dolphins! Dive in with us to discover how planes help us spot manatees in the water and to learn if dolphins have friends.

  • March 16 - Searching for Sea Cows
  • March 23 - Dolphin Pals

Spring Session (Includes Outdoor, Water Activity)

These classes take place in our outdoor classroom space, and include immersive water exploration. Please note: our sessions fill up quickly! For any full classes, you may add your family to the waitlist and we will contact you if space opens up.

Ocean Royalty

These underwater bluebloods not only have regal names, they also help to keep order and balance in habitats like seagrass beds and coral reefs. Dive in with us to find out how!

  • April 13 - Queen Conch
  • April 20 - Caribbean King Crab

Sharky Science

Join us this month to celebrate all things shark, including Mote founder Dr. Eugenie Clark’s birthday, the most famous prehistoric shark, and Mote’s amazing shark-saving research!  It’ll be FIN-tastically JAW-some!

  • May 4 - Megalodon Mysteries
  • May 11 - FinPrints for the Future

REGISTER NOW

Shark Pups & Grownups At Home (Online Activities Collection)

Who: Preschool to Kindergarten aged kids and their favorite adult
When: Available anytime (access to program for 6 months from date of purchase)
Fee: $15 per theme collection

Each home program includes: a Weekly Guide and Viewing Schedule to prepare and plan your week of STEM activities and a week of Activity Sheets, Experiment and Craft Guides, Game Printables (like scavenger hunts, memory, etc.) and private links to exclusive videos with our early childhood educators. You'll have a blast with our digital STEMventure collection, full of fun experiments and engaging activities designed by our early childhood educators! 

THEMES
Hide & SEAk: Ready or not, here we come: to learn all about how animals hide from predators and "SEAk" out their prey!  We'll investigate the adaptations ocean animals have like patterns, textures, and more!
Sea Shapes & Sizes: From the smallest plankton to the biggest blue whale, the round pufferfish to the arrow shaped barracuda, the ocean is filled with all shapes and sizes! Join us to explore our diverse ocean!
The Coast Counts: Join us to learn how humans and animals alike count on our coasts! Roleplay as a Mote scientist while learning how to monitor the health of Florida’s coastal habitats and the inhabitants found there.

Register Now

 

Questions about Shark Pups and Grownups at Mote? Contact Alison Goldy at agoldy@mote.org.

Please review our updated Program Policies, including cancellation and refund information.