How an Aquarium Will Make Kids Smarter
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First a teaching aquarium in the classroom energizes learning, it prods learners to get involved because the tank is not an inanimate object it is a living, breathing organism, full of fellow creatures who just by their very existence teach learners about life in an ecosystem covered by water. It is easy to engage a human being in caring about the welfare of their fellow creatures, their life cycles, what they eat, how they protect themselves and even how they pass away. All of this will engage learners in a real way that a computer or online game can only dream of. Once you have observed the “life under the sea”, you are invested in its well-being and it’s ultimate successful survival.
Math and The Aquarium
The educational aquarium is also good for teaching math skills. From the little
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learners who are just learning how to count. to the older learners who are learning about algebra, geometry or physics, all can be accommodated and engaged by using an educational aquarium. Lessons to learn simple math can be devised to count the “creatures” in the tank, or to group them together into similar groups, or to add and subtract them from the tank, or to learn the percentages of the population of your tank, from what percentage of the total population consists of sea stars. The applications are as limitless as the imaginations of our brightest educators. As for older learners, you can determine how much water is best for the tank, the percentage of salt in the water, the life span of certain sea creatures, how they function outside and inside. How to measure angles and recognize geometric shapes in nature. All of this can be developed by using an educational aquarium in the classroom to enhance and teach math skills.
Social Studies and The Educational Aquarium
There are an unlimited number of ways that the aquarium used in an educational setting can help inspire learning social studies. You can have learners research public policies and laws which have impacted not only the health of the oceans but the health and well-being of the many fish and creatures that are harvested from our oceans every year. Students can easily understand the positive and negative aspects of a public policy as it applies to the under water world that is a part of their educational experience every day of their learning. They can look back at historical figures and connect many of them to the oceans and the activities on or around them. From fishing to trade. You can also relate the treatment of the oceans animals by the governments around the world today. Policies are made that will have a direct impact on the ocean world that learners will become an interactive part of. There are so many different types of lessons that having a tank available for the education of kids, it would be a resource without end.
An Educational Aquarium is For Your School
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Having an educational aquarium in the classroom would be a benefit to all curriculum’s and all ages of learners. There is no way that we can limit the use of such a valuable educational tool to just one of the classes that learners encounter in school when it teaches so much about everything. Once you start to investigate the true value of having an aquarium in the classroom, and see all of the applications that it has, you will be looking to add one to your school system as quickly as you can, because the increased enthusiasm for learning and desire to find out more about math, science, history or foreign languages will be mind-blowing.
Filed under Educational Aquariums Outreach and Education, Environmental Science by on Jan 25th, 2012. Comment. 
There are many things that should be considered before setting up a marine aquarium, and there are countless resources that should be studied before taking on the challenge. Three important things to consider before undertaking this rewarding endeavor are the size of the tank, the type of filtration system, and what lighting components will work best for the chosen aquarium location.
Aquarium tanks are made from two different materials acrylic and glass. Acrylic is more durable than glass, has a higher
Rh factor that will reduce sweating, and if acrylic is scratched, the damage can be easily buffed out. When setting up an aquarium, you should select the largest system possible because the larger the tank, the easier it is to maintain. Larger marine aquariums produce a more stable environment and provide more flexibility for stocking and decorating.
Filters are characterized by type and how they work, and all filters are designed to remove waste and generate oxygen. There are many different filters for marine aquariums and choosing the right filtration system comes down to time, money, and desired or required cleanliness.
Unless you have an “open” aquarium with a continuous flow of clean salt water, biological filtration is a must. Waste and uneaten food are toxic to your fish and invertebrates, and unless the contamination is converted to harmless bacteria or filtered out with some type of biological filtration, the inhabitants in your tank will die.
The simplest bio-filters include air-driven boxes or foam filters, these filters work fine for quarantine tanks with limited stock. Under gravel filters are time-tested filters that are powered by air. They draw or push the aquariums water through the substrate and trap particles, accelerating the natural biological filtration process. They are not a necessity for a clean marine aquarium, but will reduce time and produce a healthier aquarium.
Power filters come in several models that can be placed inside or outside of an aquarium. Some power filters hang on the 
back or are placed under the tank. They come pressurized or unpressurized in either wet or dry canisters. Outside power filters are preferred to inside the tank filters as they minimize time and frustration when cleaning. The best models are quiet, energy-efficient and easy to use.
Lighting
Aquarium lighting can be very important for keeping an aquarium in homeostasis, and quality lighting will allow the hobbyist to get the most enjoyment from their aquarium. Photo- quality, strength and duration should be understood and properly controlled, and if the lighting is properly installed, the aquarium will run at its optimum performance. Many aquarium systems are sold with quality lighting, but most aquariums are not equipped with a good assortment of hoods, fixtures, lamps and conversion kits.
Most aquariums need artificial lighting for maximum enjoyment and optimum livestock health. While setting up an aquarium, the important things to remember are to keep water separate from electrical components and ensure the proper venting of waste heat so it doesn’t overheat your system.
Marine aquariums provide enjoyment for many people all over the world. Aquariums, like people, come in all shapes and sizes, and if you do a little research to ensure that the right aquarium is selected, the benefits of owning a well-maintained marine aquarium will be enjoyed for many years to come.
Filed under Educational Aquariums Outreach and Education, Uncategorized by on Jan 25th, 2012. 2 Comments.
Sharcula fundraising program
Fund Your Touch Tank
One person, one shark can make a difference. You’ve just been bitten. Question: Are you going to bite back? Count Sharcula is a fundraising program that is viral in nature and Count Sharcula wants to improve the health of the Oceans.
The Mission of Count Sharcula:
- Raise Awareness of Ocean Issues
- Suggests 10 simple steps that help improve the Earth’s Environment (listed at end of article)
- Help every school and organization, that wants an Educational Touch Tank, raise the money to get one.
Touch Tanks for Kids has created the Count Sharcula Fundraising Program, an automatic fund-raising mechanism, to help schools or organization purchase a Touch Tank Teaching System for their classroom, library, welcome center, or any other appropriate location.
The Count Sharcula Fundraising Program is simple to use and will help your Touch Tank Project get funding from more people than other traditional fundraisers.
How The Count Sharcula Fundraising Program Works-
Apply for the Touch Tank for Kids Grant, and if you want to start collecting funds from the Sharcula Fundraising Program, clearly state how your school or organization’s name should appear on the Touch Tank Fundraising Tank. This will allow Touch Tanks for Kids to set up your fundraising modem.
Win an iPod Touch
Pay $5 and become a Count Sharcula Ocean Advocate. The Count Sharcula Facebook application allows you to easily invite friends to participate in theCount Sharcula Ocean Advocate Touch Tank Fund Raiser. Contact your Facebook Friends and ask them to become a Count Sharcula Ocean Advocate by donating $5 to your Touch Tank Project and encourage your friends to invite their friends to do the same . Once your fundraising tank reaches it goal of 2000 Count Sharcula Ocean Advocates, your school or organization gets the World-Class Touch Tank Teaching system.
For every Count Sharcula Ocean Advocate recruited, the recruiter is entered to win an iPod Touch . For every 500 Count Sharcula Ocean Advocates recruited, a winner is selected to receive and iPod Touch . Four Winners per Touch Tank Project, Personally Recruit 500 Count Sharcula Ocean Advocates win an I-pad Touch-3 automatically.
Easy to Organizer: simply start spreading the word with your Facebook Friends and let the natural progression of an educational fundraiser take care of the rest.
Count Sharcula Tips That Help Reduce Waste and Improve the Health of our Oceans:
1. Educate Yourself About Marine and Aquatic Habitats
2. Support Organizations That Help Improve Ocean Literacy
3. Only Eat Sustainable Seafood
4. Clean up Your Neighborhood and the Beach
5. Use Less Plastic
6. Reduce Energy Use
7. Refuse to Support Companies That Exploit Marine Life
8. Be a Responsible Pet Owner
9. Respect Waterways While Boating
10. Influence Change in Your Community
Filed under Fund Raising by on Dec 5th, 2011. Comment.
A Guide of Tropical Aquarium Fish provides tropical fish tank tips for fish geeks. This informative site provides numerous links to tips and 
suggestions about keeping your aquariums in fantastic working condition. They are open to a link exchange with websites that create related material.
Keeping an aquarium is a challenging task; DO NOT take a decision to own tropical fish lightly. If you are responsible and reliable, your tropical fish will live. If you are not, do not attempt to keep tropical fish in your home.
A Guide of Tropical Aquarium Fish website concentrates on tropical fish, specializing in freshwater set-ups. All the information required to set up a tropical tank is provided with-in and the information complements the information found on Touch-Tank that specialize in cold water marine aquariums. Both set-ups are great for teaching life skills in the classroom.
It takes money to purchase and operate aquariums. They require filters, heaters, lights and pumps, decor, plants, water treatments and of course inhabitants, fish and invertebrates to live in the fish tank. The benefits include:
Reduce stress-allowing for superior learning
Minimize nervousness-relaxing prospects helping them purchase
Lessen anxiety-helping small children who aren’t used to being away from their parents for a extended period of time adjust to the new environment
Show students how fish live
Demonstrate the value of natural aquatic habitats
Teach children responsible as they care for the live inhabitants
Encourage respect as caretakers learn to nurture other living things and care for those more vulnerable than themselves.
“it’s all been well worth it.” Aquarium owners as well as educational aquarium educators often repeat these words of a young tropical fish aquarium owner.
Attention Teacher and PTCO Members, Touch-Tank suggests that your group consider applying for a Touch Tanks for Kids Grant , or a Lobster Fundraising campaign for complete funding for your educational aquarium projects.
Filed under Tropical Aquarium Fish by on Dec 1st, 2011. 23 Comments.
Support Environmental Science Education
Touch Tanks for Kids is happy to provide some useful Environmental Science Resources that will help educators make a more dynamic and long lasting impact with their educational marine aquariums. The Delaware Sea Grant College Program offers a variety of low to no cost resources for teachers working in grades k-12, that may be looking for environmental science curriculum dealing with the ocean or the earth. This environmental science information will help all curriculum materials dealing with environmental science come to life.
Making a Horseshoe Crab Model- Environmental Studies
This Horseshoe crab model includes many details about the life of a horseshoe crab.
Publication Date:January 1, 2006
Ocean and Environmental Science Information
Life-sized, three-dimensional paper model, which can be assembled with tape in approximately 15 minutes. A great activity for 4th graders and up. Includes background information on the horseshoe crab and a crossword puzzle to test readers’ knowledge.
Cost: $1. Copies are free to Delaware schoolteachers for classroom use. Requests should be submitted on school letterhead.
For more information on how this publication correlates to state science standards which help promote environmental science projects, click here.
To order, download this order form or contact the UD Marine Public Education Office at 302-831-8083
Touch-Tank for Kids provides educational support for all teaching aquarium enthusiast free of charge. Students learn a vast amount when they observe the behaviors and actions of an Eco-system that they are actually reading about in textbooks. The aquarium tank information discussed on this site includes powerful ways to enhance education in any setting. Teaching about environmental science in the most profound way.
Touch-Tank For Kids hopes that you find the ocean and environmental science information and curriculum helpful. If you do, please leave a comment and bookmark this page:)
This site is created and maintained by Shannon Mae Development, Inc.
Filed under Environmental Science, Touch Tank Assignments by on Oct 26th, 2011. 2 Comments.
Touch Tank
- Tips on Using Educational Aquariums In The ClassroomHow an Aquarium Will Make Kids Smarter First a teaching aquarium in the classroom energizes learning, it prods learners to get involved because the tank is not an inanimate object it is a living, breathing organism, full of fellow creatures who just by their very existence teach learners about life in an ecosystem covered by […]
- How To Set up a Marine AquariumThere are many things that should be considered before setting up a marine aquarium, and there are countless resources that should be studied before taking on the challenge. Three important things to consider before undertaking this rewarding endeavor are the size of the tank, the type of filtration system, and what lighting components will work […]
- Count Sharcula Fundraising ProgramFund Your Touch Tank One person, one shark can make a difference. You’ve just been bitten. Question: Are you going to bite back? Count Sharcula is a fundraising program that is viral in nature and Count Sharcula wants to improve the health of the Oceans. The Mission of Count Sharcula: Raise Awareness of Ocean Issues […]
- Everything You Need To Know About Tropical FishA Guide of Tropical Aquarium Fish provides tropical fish tank tips for fish geeks. This informative site provides numerous links to tips and suggestions […]
- Ocean and Environmental Science Information and CurriculumHere are some useful resource, a variety of free or low-cost resources to K-12 teachers seeking ocean, and environmental science information and curriculum […]
- A Marine Aquarium Boosts Fund RaisingYou can find a marine aquarium in a cross section of museums throughout the country. Museums have unique challenges, attributes and needs, and quality educational aquariums may provide a unique solution to a museum’s funding problems. In order to create the most successful marine aquarium funding campaign possible, a museum needs support from the board. If a […]
- A Teacher’s Guide to Marine LifeOcean organisms contribute significantly to the oxygen cycle, help regulate the Earth’s climate, and some ocean organism, visit Touch-Tank and discover more […]
- Trade Show Touch TankIf your trade show displays do not meet your expectations, consider adding a touch tank.This will draw prospects to your trade show booth like bears to honey […]
- Dr. Touch Tanks Ocean GuideDr. Touch Tanks Ocean Guide supplies teachers with a versatile teaching resource that supports aquarium education. The simple sea creature illustrations, ... […]
- Lobster FundraisingNOW, because of improvements in storing, shipping, and handling, Love Maine Lobsters offers Lobster Fundraising that provides another way to fund your projects […]
