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The Virtual Aquaclass is an opportunity for students to connect live with a Vancouver Aquarium educator without having to leave the classroom.

Primary, Intermediate, Secondary

Students will be introduced to the phyla Cephalopoda and the key characteristics that make this group of squids, octopuses, and cuttlefish so spectacular by joining our expert educator for a live squid dissection. Through an examination of the squid’s anatomy students will discuss how an animal’s adaptation helps them to survive in their environment.

*Dissection specimen may differ based on availablility.

Standard programs are $100 per 45-minute sessions and include a Q&A time between students and our expert staff. Choose from our wide variety of programs. This program is customizable upon request* to address specific interest and needs of each group. All programs are available in English or French.

Choose from our wide variety of programs. This program is customizable upon request* to address specific interest and needs of each group. All programs are available in English or French.

*additional costs may be required for customizations.

Explore additional topics on our Virtual Aquaclass webpage.

Can’t come to the Fraser River Discovery Centre? No problem! We can come to you! Two FRDC staff will bring all the materials necessary to run some of our most popular River School Programs right in your own classroom!

All materials will be fully sanitized between use, and the staff will wear masks. If there are additional safety protocols we need to follow, please contact us. Please note, small group work is part of each program, with frequent sanitation of touched objects.

Cost: $9 per student, plus $0.90 per kilometer between FRDC and your school.

Programs:

• Nature Walk (Grades 2-7)
  • On your last walk through nature, what did you notice? What did you wonder? In this program students will explore the connections between living things within their local environment (Kingdom Plantae). They will learn the connection between science and our communities and how they can begin to identify plants in their everyday lives. Students will learn some of the key identifiers of each sub-category in the Kingdom Plantae and use these skills on a nature walk. This information can then be used in the classroom to further investigate plants and find connections between plants, and between people and nature.
• Our Bones are Made of Salmon (Grades 4-7)
  • Indigenous people have relied on salmon since the fish became abundant in the Fraser River about 5000-6000 years ago. This program explores the connection between Indigenous people and salmon on the Fraser River. Students get hands-on experience with fishing technology, learn about wind-drying salmon, and discover that salmon is in the hearts of Indigenous people living along the Fraser River today.
• Living Dinosaurs (Grades K-7)
  • Sturgeon are amazing fish that have been around since the time of the dinosaurs. Human influences over the past 150 years have threatened their existence. In this program, students will learn about the sturgeon lifecycle, survival needs, and what we can do to protect this remarkable species.
• Trading Trail (Grades 2-5)
  • The Fraser River is one of the world’s great rivers not only in its contribution to the environmental, cultural, and historical wealth of British Columbia, but because of its current pivotal role in the economy of BC. We are going to explore how people have used and shared the resources of the Fraser River, focusing on the tumultuous time when First Nations and Fur traders shared the river.
• Welcomed by the Water (K-3)
  • Prior to European colonization, Indigenous peoples got what they needed from the land and water around them. Indigenous peoples have relied on salmon since the fish became abundant in the Fraser River about 5000-6000 years ago. They used native plants for food, medicine, building materials and more. This program explores the connection between Indigenous peoples, salmon, and the broader Fraser River Basin. Students experience the movement of salmon, storytelling and oral histories, and the many uses of native plants through an Indigenous perspective.
  • PLEASE NOTE: This program requires a large open space, like a covered play area or gymnasium.
• River of Stories (Grades K-2)
  • Join us as we journey down the river of stories from the headwaters to the mouth of the Fraser. Travelling along an interactive map, students will learn all about the Fraser River Basin through stories from the near and distant past. The program ends with a reflection on our place in this landscape, as students add their own story to the map. 
• Complexities and Compromises (Grades 8-12)
  • Many of the big decisions we face as individuals, communities, or nations don't have a correct answer. Making these decisions can be extremely challenging, as we grapple with information and misinformation, our own conscience, and strong opposing opinions. In the face of climate change, many of these decisions become even more challenging. In this program, students are sasked with deciding whether or not to approve a project that would have impacts on a global scale. We go step by step through the process, conducting research, mapping out consequences, and ultimately: deciding. 

For more information, visit our website or email us. 

Online booking form here. 

Find out what life was like in this historic neighbourhood in the past and enjoy the traditional markets, family associations and fascinating places that still exist today. This is a unique opportunity to study Vancouver's Chinatown in place.

This is a popular, highly customizeable program and our expert facilitators are happy to work with you to acheive your learning objectives. Teachers have used this tour for supplementary learning in a range of subjects from Social Studies and English Language Arts to Urban Planning, Tourism and Asian Studies. A shorter version of this tour is available for younger students.

A popular addition to this program is our Crossing Borders program that discusses early Chinese immigration. Contact us or visit our website for more information. 

Can't visit the gallery? The School Art Program has created classroom art kits to bring the exciting world of contemporary art into the classroom or home classroom.  Each kit is a combination of online content plus specialty art supplies for each student.  The online content contains videos of our art educators guiding students step by step through 3-5 different art lessons which are all connected by the themes of our gallery exhibitions. Also included are virtual exhibition tours and video interviews with gallery artists and a teacher guide so students can learn about contemporary Canadian Artists and connect their work and experiences to the exhibition artworks.  For more information or to book a kit check out our gallery website.

Can’t come to the museum? Book one of our award-winning Beaty Boxes; outreach kits with touchable specimens, information about UBC research scientists, and hands-on activities that explore biodiversity. Our outreach kits provide you and your students with the opportunity to connect with the Beaty Biodiversity Museum’s unique biological collections. All Beaty Boxes contain touchable specimens and other scientific objects to stimulate inquiry and discussion within the classroom, enhancing the student learning experience.

Schools, community centres, libraries, home-learners, and other groups are encouraged to book a box and share it with other classes in the school or institutions in their immediate area. This can be a cost-effective way to share resources in the community.

Formore information, please visit: https://beatymuseum.ubc.ca/learn/beaty-boxes/

Join us online to virtually explore the six collections that make up the museum: Tetrapods, Marine Invertebrates, Herbarium, Entomology, Fish, and Fossils. Discover stories about BC species, biodiversity research, and different specimens in the collection and how they relate to each other.

This introductory online tour will teach you about some of the different specimens in the collection, and showcase some of our Museum Interpreters’ favourite specimens and stories. After a virtual tour, you will have time to ask questions.

Tour Length

Online tours are 60 minutes long. The online program includes up to 15 minutes for a tech-test with the organizer, students, and facilitator before the program begins, plus 45 minute program time, which includes time for student questions and discussion.

When you click the zoom link, you will be taken to a waiting room. The organizer will be let in first, so we can quickly touch base about the program. Then, students will be allowed into the zoom room where we can check that things are set up and working smoothly before we begin. The main organizer can sign on a few minutes before the scheduled start time (up to 5) if preferred.

Booking Times

Online tours are booked using our online booking form and follow our regular booking policy and procedures

Class Size & Management

A maximum of 30 participants per booking makes for an optimal experience. We will expect the adults responsible for the group to provide group management and facilitate the Q&A portion. The amount of time for individual students to ask questions and interact will depend on the number of students in the call.

For more information: https://beatymuseum.ubc.ca/learn/online-museum-collections-tour/