IVC Video
Connect the Oceans to your Classroom
SeaTrek brings high-energy, multimedia science programming right into the classroom using videoconferencing and Internet technology. Our programs feature real scientists working in the field with interviews showing how their interests led them to their careers.
We deliver interactive videoconference programs via IP connections (H.323). Check our How to Connect page for more details. To book a program, use our Registration page.
Content units are available for most of our programs. Check the Program Guide below for links and look in the units' appendices for alignment to National Science and Next Generation Sunshince State Standards.
Program Matrix
| Program | Price* | Length | K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | + |
| Sea Me Read: Sharks | $75 | 25 min | + | + | + | ? | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Sea Me Read: Crabs | $75 | 25 min | + | + | + | ? | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x |
| Sea Me Read: Squid | $75 | 25 min | + | + | + | ? | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | Sea Turtles | $175 | 50 min | x | x | x | - | + | + | + | + | + | ? | x | x | x | x | Manatees | $175 | 50 min | x | x | x | - | + | + | + | + | + | ? | x | x | x | x | Snack Attack | $75 | 25 min | x | x | x | - | + | + | + | + | + | - | - | - | - | ? | Sharks | $175 | 50 min | x | x | x | - | + | + | + | + | + | ? | x | x | x | x | Discovery Reef | $75 | 25 min | x | x | x | - | + | + | + | + | + | - | - | - | - | ? | Coral Reefs | $175 | 50 min | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | - | + | + | + | + | ? | Dolphins | $175 | 50 min | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | - | + | + | + | + | ? | Careers | $175 | 50 min | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | - | + | + | + | + | ? |
| Showcase | $75 | 25 min | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | x | + |
| Virtual Office Hours | FREE | 10 min | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + | + |
* Program prices are for single-point connections. For details about multipoint connections, contact our Site Coordinator.
Program Guide
Sea Me Read: Smiley Shark ^TOP
| K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | $75 | |
| Approximately 25 minutes | ||||||||||||||
SMILE! Join us on an ocean adventure and meet a lonely shark who loves to smile. Read along as we help him save the day and find some friends.
- Program Fee: $75 US
- Recommended for: K-2nd grade (age 4-7 years)
- Running time: approximately 25 minutes
Objective: Students will learn about shark diversity and the characteristics of sharks. Students will also use literacy and reading comprehension skills. Finally, students will learn why sharks are threatened and what they can do to help conserve them.
Overview: In this videoconference, Mote Marine Laboratory will present a media-rich literaSEA videoconference on sharks.
- Types of sharks (3 minutes)
- The Story of Smiley Shark (7 minutes)
- Fishy Thoughts: Help our educator answer a few questions about sharks! (4 minute)
- Look through Smiley Shark’s photo album to meet his friends (1 minute)
- Shark Conservation: What you can do to help (1 minute)
- Questions and Answers (~5 minutes)
Materials: To participate in this program, you will need the following:
- A videoconferencing system capable of synchronous 384 Kbps or more
- Student worksheet (PDF 1.9M) (optional)
- Smiley Shark, by Ruth Galloway (optional)
Sea Me Read: Clumsy Crab ^TOP
| K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | $75 | |
| Approximately 25 minutes | ||||||||||||||
Snip, snap! Nipper the Crab hates his huge clumsy claws. Read along with us as we find out how useful Clumsy's claws can be.
- Program Fee: $75 US
- Recommended for: K-2nd grade (age 4-7 years)
- Running time: approximately 25 minutes
Objective: Students will learn about crab diversity and the characteristics of invertebrates. Students will also use literacy and reading comprehension skills.
Overview:In this videoconference, Mote Marine Laboratory will present a media-rich videoconference on crabs.
- Am I Crabby?, a crab guessing game (4 minutes)
- The story of Clumsy Crab (8 minutes)
- Fishy Thoughts, help answer a few questions about crabs (3 minute)
- Kinds of crabs and crab relatives (invertebrates) (2 minutes)
- Questions and Answers (5-8 minutes)
Materials: To participate in this program, you will need the following:
- A videoconferencing system capable of synchronous 384 Kbps or more
- Student worksheet (PDF 1.8M) (optional)
- Clumsy Crab, by Ruth Galloway (optional)
Made possible by a generous grant from the Kates Foundation.
Sea Me Read: Sid the Squid ^TOP
AVAILABLE SPRING 2012
Finding the ideal job isn't easy. Especially if you have 8 arms and 2 tentacles. Bravery. Persistence. Luck. Sid is a job seeker like the kid in every one of us. Read along with us as we help him find the perfect job.
- Recommended for: K-2nd grade (age 4-7 years)
- Running time: approximately 25 minutes.
- This program will be available via Skype:
http://education.skype.com/projects/132
Sea Turtles ^TOP
| K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | $175 | |
| Approximately 50 minutes | ||||||||||||||
Our lively gameshow reveals why sea turtles are truly amazing reptiles. We discover what a hatchling needs to survive in the open ocean and then take a tour of our sea turtle exhibits.
- Program Fee: $175
- Recommended for: 4th-8th grade (age 9-13 years)
- Running time: approximately 50 minutes
Objective: Students will learn about general reptile characteristics and the different species of sea turtles. Student will also learn where sea turtles live and nest and their basic adaptations to marine life. Finally students will learn why sea turtles are threatened and what conservation measures are being taken to protect them.
Overview: In this videoconference, Mote Marine Laboratory will present a media-rich videoconference on sea turtles. Topics presented include:
- Reptile characteristics game
- Nesting behaviour and turtle hatchling survival
- Unique turtle adaptations
- Role of sea turtles in the ecosystem
- Sea turtles species game
- Walkthrough of Mote's sea turtle hospital
- Threats to sea turtles and sea turtle conservation
- Questions and Answers
IVC program pre-questions:
- What are sea turtles?
- Why are they beneficial to ocean environments?
- What types of conservation measures are being taken to protect sea turtles?
- What can you do to protect sea turtles?
Materials: To participate in this program, you will need the following:
- A videoconferencing system capable of synchronous 384 Kbps or more
- SeaTrek companion curriculum (1.74M PDF) (optional, see appendix for alignment to National and Sunshine State Standards)
- Mote eNotes: Sea Turtles (585K PDF) (optional)
- National Science Teachers Association article: Learning with Loggerheads (286K PDF) (optional)
Tracking Sea Turtles online: Check out satellite tracking of loggerhead sea turtles in SW Florida, a project of Mote Marine Laboratory in conjunction with other partners.
Manatees ^TOP
| K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | $175 | |
| Approximately 50 minutes | ||||||||||||||
How do you train a 3000-pound relative of the elephant? Learn how we care for Hugh and Buffett, our resident West Indian manatees, and find out how big and smart they are.
- Program Fee: $175
- Recommended for: 4th-8th grade (age 9-13 years)
- Running time: approximately 50 minutes
Objective: The student will learn the basic characteristics of a mammal, and the adaptations of manatees. The student will also learn how captive manatees are cared for and what conservation efforts are being made for wild populations.
Overview: In this videoconference, Mote Marine Laboratory will present a media-rich program on manatees. Topics include:
- Basic mammal characteristics and specific manatee anatomy
- Captive animal husbandry and training
- Environmental Enrichment Devices (EEDs)
- Threats to manatees and how the students can help
- Questions and Answers featuring live video from our Manatee Tank
Materials: To participate in this program, you will need the following:
- A videoconferencing system capable of synchronous 384 Kbps or more
- SeaTrek companion curriculum (1.79M PDF) (optional, see appendix for alignment to National and Sunshine State Standards)
- Students’ Manatee Web worksheets (optional, from Lesson 1)
- Access to the Mote Manatee Toy Internet site (optional, from Lesson 5)
- Mote eNotes: Manatees & Dugongs (607K PDF) (optional)
Manatee Toys: Learn how you can make an Environmental Enrichment Device (EED) for Hugh and Buffett, our resident West-Indian manatees.
Snack Attack (Sharks Express) ^TOP
| K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | $75 | |
| Approximately 25 minutes | ||||||||||||||
Connect with us to experience a narrated shark feeding originating from our 135,000-gallon shark habitat.
- Program Fee: $75
- Recommended for: 3rd-12th+ grade (age 9-18 years)
- Running time: approximately 25 minutes
Overview: In this videoconference, Mote Marine Laboratory will present a media-rich videoconference featuring a narrated feeding from our shark habitat.
- Countdown (7 min.)
- Narrated feeding (8 min.)
- Question and Answer (10 min.)
Materials: To participate in this program, you will need the following:
- A videoconferencing system capable of synchronous 384 Kbps or more
- Student worksheet (PDF 522K) (optional)
Links:
Sharks (Full) ^TOP
| K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | $175 | |
| Approximately 50 minutes | ||||||||||||||
Don't be afraid! See sharks up close and learn the truth about them! Find out why it's more dangerous to be at home than in the water with these fascinating creatures.
- Program Fee: $175
- Recommended for: 4th-8th grade (age 9-13 years).
- Running time: approximately 50 minutes.
Objective: The students will learn about the behavior of sharks, types of sharks, and the anatomy and physiology of sharks (including the senses). Students will also learn about the popular misconceptions about sharks and why they are often misunderstood.
Overview: In this videoconference, Mote Marine Laboratory will present a media-rich videoconference on sharks. Topics include:
- Types of sharks (~5 minutes)
- Shark facts versus shark myths; simple statistics from the International Shark Attack File (~5 minutes)
- Shark senses and super-senses (electroreception) (~10 minutes)
- Shark feeding contrasted with other behaviors (~15 minutes)
- Shark anatomy/physiology (bony fish vs. cartilaginous fish, buoyancy) (~10 minutes)
- Questions and Answers (~5 minutes)
Materials: To participate in this program, you will need the following:
- A videoconferencing system capable of synchronous 384 Kbps or more
- SeaTrek companion curriculum (1.91M PDF) (optional, see appendix for alignment to National and Sunshine State Standards)
- Shark Journals (optional, from Lesson 1)
- Mote eNotes: Skates (533K PDF) (optional)
Links:
Learn how Mote Marine Laboratory scientists track sharks in the wild by playing our online Sharktracker interactive game.
Discovery Reef (Coral Reefs Express) ^TOP
| K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | $75 | |
| Approximately 25 minutes | ||||||||||||||
Help Meno the Angelfish find his way home! Along the way, students discover marvelous treasures hidden inside the coral reef!
- Program Fee: $75 US
- Recommended for: 3rd-12th+ grade (age 9-18 years)
- Running time: approximately 25 minutes
Objective: The student will:
- understand the basic ecology of coral reefs
- learn about relationships found on a coral reef
- understand coral anatomy, reproduction, and defense
- understand why coral reefs are important
- learn how Mote Marine Laboratory studies coral reefs
learn how we can protect coral reefs
Overview: In this videoconference, Mote Marine Laboratory will present a media-rich videoconference on coral reefs.
- Opening featuring Animal or Vegetable (~5 min.)
- Interactive coral reef game show called Discovery Reef (20 min.)
- Coral polyp anatomy
- Coral reproduction
- Coral defense
- Coral reef distribution
- Threats to corals
- Biodiversity of coral reefs
- What can students do to help coral reefs (~5 min.)
- Questions and Answers (~5-10 min.)
Materials: To participate in this program, you will need the following:
- A videoconferencing system capable of synchronous 384 Kbps or more
- SeaTrek companion curriculum (3.26M PDF) (optional, see appendix for alignment to National and Sunshine State Standards)
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium wishes to thank the Florida Protect Our Reefs Grants Fund, whose support made possible the development of this program.
Bring the oceans to your classroom! Our Discovery Reef traveling exhibit is available for rental and includes four IVC programs.
Coral Reefs (Full) ^TOP
| K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | $175 | |
| Approximately 50 minutes | ||||||||||||||
Why are coral reefs important? Discover the value of coral reefs to wildlife and how important they are to people too.
- Program Fee: $175 US
- Recommended for: 9th-12th grade (age 14-18 years)
- Running time: approximately 50 minutes
Objective: To demonstrate the value and importance of coral reefs to wildlife and to people.
Overview: In this videoconference, Mote Marine Laboratory will present a media-rich videoconference on coral reefs.
- Opening featuring Animal or Vegetable (~5 min.)
- Interactive coral reef game show called Don't Take Me Too Littorally (40 min.)
- Polyp Palooza - coral anatomy (~5 min.)
- Artificial Surf - coral conservation and restoration (~5 min.)
- Waste Deep - pollution and threats to coral reefs (~5 min.)
- For Whom the Shell Atolls - coral reef formation (~5 min.)
- Sleeping with the Anemone - coral reef symbiosis (~5 min.)
- Lord of the Stings - coral defense (~5 min.)
- Forest for the Seas - coral reef diversity (~5 min.)
- Call Me Fish Meal - coral reef food webs (~5 min.)
- What can students do to help coral reefs (~5 min.)
- Questions and Answers (~5-15 min.)
Materials: To participate in this program, you will need the following:
- A videoconferencing system capable of synchronous 384 Kbps or more
- SeaTrek companion curriculum (6.88M PDF) (optional, see appendix for alignment to National and Sunshine State Standards)
Mote Marine Laboratory & Aquarium wishes to thank the Bank of America Client Foundation, whose generous support made possible the development of this program.
Dolphins ^TOP
| K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | $175 | |
| Approximately 50 minutes | ||||||||||||||
Think you know everything about dolphins? Stay tuned as we expose the reality of these misunderstood marine mammals with a Jeopardy-style game show.
- Program Fee: $175 US
- Recommended for: 9th-12th grade (age 14-18 years)
- Running time: approximately 45 minutes
Objective: The students will be introduced to dolphin reality; dolphin anatomy and adaptations; dolphin society; dolphin behavior; dolphin research; and dolphin conservation. Students will learn the popular misconceptions about dolphins and why they are often misunderstood.
Overview: In this videoconference, Mote Marine Laboratory will present a media-rich videoconference on dolphins. Topics include:
- Basic mammalian and specfic dolphin anatomy and physiology
- Double Dolphin game featuring dolphin diets, behavior and communication
- Wild dolphin research featuring the work of Dr. Randy Wells
- Question and Answer
Materials: To participate in this program, you will need the following:
- A videoconferencing system capable of synchronous 384 Kbps or more
- SeaTrek companion curriculum (5.1M PDF) (optional, see appendix for alignment to National and Sunshine State Standards)
- Mote eNotes: Dolphins (593K PDF) and Whales (619K PDF) (optional)
Links:
- Sarasota Dolphin Research Program
- Dolphins in Depth, an online game from Brookfield Zoo
Marine Careers ^TOP
| K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | $175 | |
| Approximately 50 minutes | ||||||||||||||
Dive into exciting careers and speak live with Mote's experts! SeaTrek offers opportunities to interact with experts from a variety of career paths, such as marine scientists, aquarists, educators, manatee trainers and more!
- Program Fee: $175 US
- Recommended for: 9th-12th grade (age 14-18 years)
- Running time: approximately 45 minutes
Objective: The students will learn about marine science and aquarium careers and what it takes to work in these fascinating fields.
Materials: To participate in this program, you will need the following:
- A videoconferencing system capable of synchronous 384 Kbps or more
- Marine Careers Survery (75K PDF) (optional)
Showcase ^TOP
| For teachers and administrators | $75 | |||||||||||||
| Approximately 25 minutes | ||||||||||||||
This program is for teachers and administrators interested in an overview of our IVC programs. It is a great way to demonstrate videoconferencing technology and a popular choice for Professional Development programs.
- Program Fee: $75 US
- Recommended for: teachers and administrators
- Running time: approximately 25 minutes
Virtual Office Hours - Ask An Ocean Expert ^TOP
| K | 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 | 8 | 9 | 10 | 11 | 12 | FREE | |
| 10 minutes | ||||||||||||||
We occasionally offer a limited number of free connection via Skype during "Virtual Office Hours" sessions. You can connect with us for up to ten minutes during these sessions and ask our marine expert questions about ocean science. Our just chat with us about the weather in Sarasota. The format is open.
- Program Fee: Free
- Recommended for: anyone
- Running time: 10 minutes
Requirements: To participate in this program, you will need the following:
- A computer capable of making connections via Skype
- Book a meeting time with our online Skype scheduler: ohours.org/seatrek


