MSC In Your Classroom
MSC Outreach Program staff are available to deliver in-class programs in Nahant, Lynn, Revere, Swampscott, and Marblehead. These experiences typically involve introducing students to live animals from the local rocky shore.
Our classroom visits cover an introduction to the rocky beach ecosystem and organisms. The instructor will lead students through a discussion of basic classification, while explaining special characteristics and adaptations of major groups of common marine invertebrates. Students will then spend time at touch tanks housing various rocky shore marine life. Students are taught proper handling technique and are invited to handle the animals. A brief wrap-up discussion and/or activity will emphasize the concepts learned in the program.
In-class programs typically run 30 or 45 minutes and can be customized to fit your needs. We can tailor content to specific topics such as coastal habitats, living vs. non-living things, ecosystems, or adaptations.
The maximum class size is 30 students in grades K-12 and 18 students in PreK settings. Back-to-back sessions for multiple classes are typical.
Schedule and Fees
These programs are generally scheduled during the late autumn, winter, and early spring months. Prices are subject to change and will be confirmed at the time of booking. A group is defined as 30 or fewer students (grades K-12) or 20 students or fewer (PreK). We can accommodate up to 3 classroom visits at the same school per day.
2023 Program Fees (per group):
- 3-hour guided MSC field program: $350
- 30-minute classroom visit: $125
- 45-minute classroom visit: $175
You may bring a check with you, pay online, or the MSC can send you an invoice after your program. Checks should be made out to Northeastern University.
Requirements
We require space and accessibility for our teaching materials, which include pails of salt water that will be wheeled in on a cart. Your space must be able to accommodate minor accidental spills, and will ideally have ramps or elevators for our wheeled cart. We will set up our traveling touch tanks either on the floor or on tables, depending on the age of the audience.
This program is only available for schools local (five mile radius) to the MSC.
Next steps
After you register, a member of our team will reach out with additional instructions and paperwork.