Outreach Programs
The Living Planet Aquarium offers two exciting outreach programs that travel out to the schools. Our Rainforest Van is designed for 2nd and 3rd graders and travels within an hour of our facility. The Utah Waters Van is a 4th grade program that travels to schools all over the state. Both programs are provided free to the schools thanks to our generous sponsors. Click on a program to the left to learn more about what we offer as well as to download our teacher packets.
To inquire about an outreach program, please contact our education department at 801.495.4448 x210 or email outreach@thelivingplanet.com.
The Rainforest Van
The Rainforest Van is an educational outreach program offered by The Living Planet Aquarium to second and third grade students along the Wasatch Front. The content of our presentations is specifically designed to coordinate with the Utah State Office of Education’s General Core Curriculum for second grade and the Science Core Curriculum for third grade. This hands-on program allows students to see and touch numerous tropical rainforest animals. As an interactive educational program, it helps foster a greater awareness for important environments most students will never see.
Topics of the Rainforest Van
- The characteristics of living things
- How animals in a community interact
- How temperature and moisture affect the environment
- Locations of tropical rainforests around the world
Animals of the Rainforest Van
- Madagascar Hissing Cockroach
- Chilean Rose Hair Tarantula
- Mexican Red Knee Tarantula
- Emperor Scorpion
- Pac Man Frog
- Common Boa Constrictor
- Rainbow Boa Constrictor
- Jungle Carpet Python
- African Gray Parrot
- Blue and Gold Macaw
- Scarlet Macaw
- Eclectus Parrot
Our Reach
Since beginning the program in 1999, the Rainforest Van has reached over 118,000 students in 34 school districts! During the 2008-2009 school year alone, we visited over 10,000 students in 99 different elementary schools!
TopRainforest Van Teacher Packet
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The Utah Waters Van
The Utah Waters Van is an educational outreach program offered by The Living Planet Aquarium to fourth grade students throughout Utah. The content of our presentations is specifically designed to coordinate with the Utah State Office of Education’s Science Core Curriculum. Presenters guide students as they learn about the water cycle, wetland ecosystems, and water conservation.
Topics of the Utah Waters Van
- The water cycle
- Our use of water
- Water conservation
- The importance of wetlands
- Adaptations and classification of some of Utah’s native wetland plants and animals
Water Cycle Models
The large, working models we bring to the classroom allow students to see the processes being discussed, such as the water cycle or how Utah uses its water, helping them to better understand and recall important information.
Animals of the Utah Waters Van.
- Garter Snake
- Tiger Salamander
Our Reach
Since our start in 2002, the Utah Waters Van has reached over 220,000 students in all 41 school districts! During the 2008-2009 school year, we offered the program to every fourth grader in the state of Utah and visited over 42,500 students in 534 different elementary schools!
TopUtah Waters Van Teacher Packet
Pdf documents require Adobe Acrobat Reader to open and view. If you do not have the reader you can download it for free here.