National Aquarium Field Trip Fun and Tips Part 2

National Aquarium Field Trip Fun and Tips Part 1

This was a great evening of education and wonder! We are very impressed with the new exhibit at the National Aquarium. While research online is great this trip was a reminder of just how wonderful it can be to interact with an expert, you can learn so much more than you dared even think to research!

One of the things we would have missed had my children not stopped to talk to one of the people working there was that the Zebra shark had layed egg pods that very day. She had not done that before. She is though to be about 8 years old and her male is thought to be just 4 years old. They doubt the male is old enough to fertilize the egg sacks but they just don’t know yet!

Can you see them in this photo?

If they had not been pointed out, we would have missed them as they look like seaweed!

See them? Two dark and tan pods!

TIP: Talk to those who work in places you visit and specially the volunteers, there is so much to learn and they love to help!

The kids just love the Zebra Sharks though they tend to call them the long tail sharks as in this tank they are the largest sharks, spotted and not stripped, and they have very long beautiful tails. As homeschoolers we ask that the kids use proper names for things but the youngest likes calling them long tails and well… she is only 3 years old. She wins!

This is a Zebra Shark. I think it is the male because it still kind of has it’s stripes. We learned that zebra sharks have stripes when young and then lose those and gain spots. Can you see what the kids mean though by the long tale?

TIP: If your going to National Aquarium leave the stroller in the car as they are not allowed in the building in part because of all the escalators and moving ramps. You can borrow baby carriers from the help desk though I believe!

On To National Aquarium Field Trip Fun and Tips Part 3