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If a class can not take an educational field trip to the ocean, this highly interactive show might be the next best thing. I lead the students in a progressive sequence of participatory song, movement... Read more

If a class can not take an educational field trip to the ocean, this highly interactive show might be the next best thing. I lead the students in a progressive sequence of participatory song, movement and story. Students easily follow me in a physical illustration of a Seafood Chain. We start with a tiny shrimp (pinky) bobbing in the water, and work our way up to a killer whale (full-body movements). Along the way we enact an eel, octopus, tuna fish, great white shark. Afterward, we take a closer look at many of these and other sea creatures. We learn what they eat, how they feed, who preys on them, and how they protect themselves. When teaching something, I often let them figure out terms and concepts. The songs which follow serve to reinforce the learning. Plus, when the lesson is acted out, e.g. in the whale version of Head, Flippers, Tail and Flukes, they will always remember that a whale's tale has two flukes because they somaticized that. (I realize that word is not in the dictionary, but putting learning into the body is perhaps the best way to describe much of my teaching method.) Students will be up and moving often throughout the show which would have over a dozen routines and songs in a variety of genres. I literally have hours of marine repertoire to draw from and can easily adapt the content according to the grade and curriculum goals. Students will be having lots of fun while learning boatloads about the sea and many of its inhabitants.

I can describe and understand a food web. I can describe many specific features of jellyfish, octopi, whales and other creatures, which help enable them to survive. I can demonstrate biomimicry. I c... Read more

I can describe and understand a food web. I can describe many specific features of jellyfish, octopi, whales and other creatures, which help enable them to survive. I can demonstrate biomimicry. I can tell you many differences between a fish and a marine mammal. I can name the proper nautical terms for many parts of a ship. I can have a blast while learning a lot about sea life!

The reason I have such an extensive marine repertoire is that the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory hired me for their annual Family Science Night for umpteen years. Since some families return... Read more

The reason I have such an extensive marine repertoire is that the Mount Desert Island Biological Laboratory hired me for their annual Family Science Night for umpteen years. Since some families returned yearly, I made a point to continually add new pieces. Since 2013, I have been presenting "Whales, Tales & Sails" weekly at New Bedford Whaling National Historic Park. That audience is families with young children so I now have even more material which is preschool-friendly. As a testament to the appeal and educational value of my program, the Cape Cod National Seashore usually does not have presenters return annually, but they are hiring me every year now. In addition to the MDI Biological Laboratory and Cape Cod National Seashore, other organizations which have hired me multiple times over the years include: Waquoit Bay Reserve for their Family Evenings on the Bluff; Boston Harbor NOW for their Family Days on George's Island; and the Woods Hole Marine Biological Laboratory for their summer family programming. The New Bedford Fishing Heritage Center has hired me many times for their Working Waterfront Festival, and their Something Fishy summer camp.