Suggestions for chaperones
Tips for being a Great Chaperone
You play a very important part in making this trip to Hatfield Marine Science Center an educational success. Being a chaperone is hard work, but very rewarding. These tips should help you with your task. As a chaperone you have several roles:
- You are the leader of your small group of students.
You will lead your group through the Visitor's Center and the workstations located in it. Ask the teacher whether the students are expected to stay together or may browse at their own pace.
Whichever you choose, start all your students in the same direction. After the Octopus Tank, the next stop will be the Touch Tank, followed by the Resource Room. If you are with a very large group, it might be wise for each small group to start at a different point in the first gallery, while still moving in the same direction. Be sure you and your students know where and when to meet at the end of the visit. If you like, the front desk staff can announce times to regroup. Alert students to listen for the announcement.
- You help students learn.
Ask the teacher about the educational goals for the visit. Find out if the students have a special project or worksheet to complete. Ask if the teacher has information that will allow you to help the students complete their task. Ask the teacher if they have the activity guides for each of the workstations. Tips for teaching are included below.
- You determine the behavior of your group.
Make sure your group understands the Visitor's Center rules: no drinks, food, or gum in the Visitor's Center; no running, shouting, or horseplay anywhere in the building; no tapping on the glass; handle the animals in the Touch Tank gently and with the respect due to any living creature. Undisciplined groups may be required to leave.
Teaching Tips for Chaperones
While exploring the Visitor's Center, you can help your students learn about the aquarium animals and how they live. Here are some tried-and-true ways to focus the attention of your group.
- Ask thought-provoking questions.
Stop at an uncrowded exhibit or tank and ask your group to describe what they see. Ask them to compare different animals.
- Examine mouths, fins, shells, and appendages.
- Observe how the animals behave. How do they move? Do all fish swim the same way? How do they protect themselves?
- Use the signs located near each tank to give you ideas for good questions.
- Watch for interesting behaviors. Have the students look for aggressive interactions, courtship, and territorial behavior.
- Guess how some of the animals got their common names. (Why is it called a blood star?) The common names are located on the identification signs near each tank, or you can ask a Hatfield Marine Science Center employee.
Remember, finding the correct answer is not as important as thinking creatively about the questions.
- Involve all the students in your group.
Wait at least one minute for answers. Do not worry if some students take what seems like a long time to you. Do not let one or two especially eager students get all the attention.
- Use trained docents.
Look for volunteer docents wearing bright orange jackets or blue aprons. They are often at the Touch Tank or the Octopus Tank, but they may be at other exhibits as well. They will be happy to answer your students' questions. Point out especially interesting animals and help the students handle the invertebrates in the Touch Tank. Remember, do not pick up any of the animals.
HMSC Education
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for Chaperones
Mystery Dig Pre-visit Guide | Mystery Dig Activity Station | Sand Sleuth Pre-visit Guide | Sand Sleuth Activity Station
Shells of the World Pre-visit Guide | Shells of the World Activity Station
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Last Update:
February 24, 2004
URL: http://hmsc.oregonstate.edu/education/
Comments: sea.grant.web@oregonstate.edu