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! We’ll have 2 different monthly themes for our outdoor programs to engage your Shark Pup, and each class will focus on a different topic 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.
SPRING SESSION
Please note: our spring session classes are currently at capacity. You may add your family to the waitlist and we will contact you if space opens up. These classes take place in our outdoor classroom space, and include water play in the bay (weather permitting).
Can You Relate?
Just like humans, animal babies have grownups to care for them when they are young. This month, learn about the different strategies ocean parents have to increase the survival of their offspring as well as how ocean babies change as they grow.
- April 15 - Seahorses: Daddy Day Care
- April 29 - Ocean Babies
Turtle Tracks
Sea turtle nesting season begins in the month of May on the west coast of Florida! Find out how Mote scientists help sea turtles both on the beach and in our sea turtle hospital.
- May 20 - Turtle Patrol
- May 27 - Save our Sea Turtles
SUMMER SESSION
These classes take place in our outdoor classroom space, and include water play in the bay (weather permitting). Please note: our summer sessions are filling up quickly! For any full classes, you may add your family to the waitlist and we will contact you if space opens up.
Superheroes of the Sea
A slime shooting sea cucumber? A fish that grows three times bigger than its normal size? Did you know that ocean animals have super powers?! We’ll compare some of the most famous superheroes to their ocean counterparts to learn all about these amazing ocean adaptations.
- June 10 - Marvel-ous Sea Cucumbers
- June 17 - The Incredible Puffer
Colors on a Coral Reef
Coral reefs are more than just a pretty home for a quarter of the ocean’s inhabitants. Many reef residents match their habitat’s rainbow colors to stay safe and find food. Come join us to find out how!
- July 1 - Pretty Parrots of the Sea
- July 15 - Tricky Shark Tips
Freshwater Florida
Florida offers so much more than just beautiful beaches and ocean wonders. We have some very charismatic wildlife in our fresh waterways as well that deserve some time in the spotlight and you ‘otter’ know how special they are!
- August 19 - You Otter Know
- August 26 - See Ya Later, Alligator!
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.
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.
