Similar to the One-month Aquarium, this program focuses on individual topics. The aquarium and its inhabitants will be set up in your classroom and will be picked up 2 weeks later. A curriculum guide, food and instructions will also be provided.

A description of each program in this series is provided below. Choose one topic or any number of them in the series. For multiple programs the aquarium will remain in your classroom. Aquariums should be located in as cool a place as possible.

Each program in this series is $250/tank, MA and CT add $25 travel fee

#1: Condensed One-month Aquarium
This program is a shortened version of the One-month aquarium program. Representatives of each of the four major groups of marine animals will be included, such as sea stars, crabs, clams and fish. (Grades K - 12)

#2: House for Hermit Crab
Based on the book by Eric Carle, this program is an exciting compliment to your reading lesson. All of the characters from the book are represented by living animals in your tank, right down to the seaweed forest. (Grades Pre-k - 3)

#3: Tropical Strays
Each summer southern coral reef fishes get carried up the coast by currents and end up in New England. Although they don't survive our winters, we collect as many as we can and keep them alive all year. Learn about how these fish get here and how they differ from our native species. Living examples will be included in your tank. (Grades 1 - 12)

#4: Introduction to Echinoderms
This lesson focuses on the spiny-skinned animals such as sea stars, sea urchins, brittle stars and sea cucumbers. Echinoderms are the only group of animals found only in salt water. (Grades 1 - 12)

#5: Introduction to Crustaceans
Live examples of crabs, shrimp and barnacles are included in this lesson on animals that are covered by an exoskeleton. (Grades 1 - 12)

#6: Introduction to Mollusks
Study shelled animals with living bivalves (two-shelled mollusks such as clams and oysters) and univalves (one-shelled animals such as snails). They may not move much, but these creatures exhibit nearly every type of feeding behavior there is. (Grades 1 - 12)

#7: Introduction to the Fish
An in-depth look at fish, you can use the animals in this program to study all kinds of behaviors and animal structures. Fins, gills, schooling and camouflage can all be taught with the animals swimming around right in front of the class. (Grades K - 12)

#8: Seahorses and Pipefish
Perhaps the most fascinating fish on our shores, these two animals are unique in body shape, fin placement and by the fact that it is actually the males that give birth. This program is available October through February. (Grades K - 12)

#9: Mermaid's Purses
Most people have seen the dried eggs of skates washed up on beaches. Here you get a chance to actually see the baby growing inside. Using a fertile egg that is "candled" by a light shining through it, students will get to learn all about how this remarkable animal grows and hatches. Although it takes a full year for the baby to hatch, you will observe the embryo during a short part of its development. Since we raise our own skates, availability may vary a bit throughout the year. (Grades K - 12)

#10: The Horseshoe Crab
Using a young specimen, your class will learn everything there is to know about this ancient animal. You'll even observe the feeding behavior in action, which is unlike any other animal on earth. (Grades K - 12)

#11: Camouflage
Blending in with the environment is one of the most important protective behaviors of animals. Here you will see examples of camouflaged marine life including flounders, shrimp and spider crabs. (Grades 2 - 12)