Aquariums offer full-day entertainment for families - design your own Aqua Creations aquarium for family fun.
Aquariums have a lot to offer children in a school environment; whether it is saltwater, freshwater, or terrarium they all have different objectives that are teachable. Science, social skills, responsibility, and calming techniques can all be taught with a school aquarium. Installation of an aquarium can also become a group project in a classroom or a whole school project for a larger display.

Science

Lessons can be integrated into the care of the aquarium. Children can be taught the difference between saltwater fish and freshwater fish, amphibians, and gastropods. Higher grades can even learn of the different PH levels required for the different species. In Addition, different ecosystems can be studied in a controlled setting. This way, students can observe the effects of introducing new objects to the environment and recording the process. Breeding can be introduced and recorded as well.

Calming Effect

Students with ADHD and restless younger children can benefit from both the calming effect of the motion of water and the sound of the water bubbling in the aquarium. A small alcove or calming area can be set up in the corner of the classroom and younger students who are upset can be encouraged to listen to the water or speak to the fish about what is bothering them. Sharing secrets with the fish encourages stress relief and the use of words to work out problems.

Responsibility

Small aquariums in classrooms can also provide children with the rotating responsibility of feeding fish and refilling water levels. Larger tanks can be a whole class or science club’s responsibility to tend to. Either way, there is the responsibility of feeding the fish, maintaining water levels, and cleansing the tanks the children can all take part in.

Social Skills

Communication between individuals is essential in any job. In the school setting children can learn how to communicate effectively to take care of the aquarium, learn about the fish in a group setting, or work on projects reflecting the social behavior of the fish subspecies. Counselors can initiate a pet therapy group to discuss emotions and relate to different ecosystems within the aquarium. Terrariums can provide small reptiles for holding in small groups to help with calming and increase happiness.

Aquariums and terrariums have many different styles and uses. You don’t need to be a marine biologist to help children learn to cope and develop critical skills from an aquarium. Students of all grades can benefit from installing one or more aquariums in the school. Teachers may even find an aquarium in the break room to be equally relaxing and refreshing. A custom school fish tank can assist in teaching children valuable life lessons.

About the Author

Sol Bick

Sol Bick
Aqua Creations Founder

Aqua Creations founder and self-proclaimed fish addict, Sol Bick is passionate about anything aquatic. With over 50 years of experience as an aquarium hobbyist and professional, Sol never stops plunging into the depths of aquatic science, researching, contributing to, and staying current with the latest technologies.