A Day at the Aquarium

One of my favorite things about homeschooling is getting to use the world and any of the places in it as our school. As homeschoolers, we recognize that learning doesn't just happen in a classroom or during school time. Learning happens all day, everywhere, through every experience. We try to take field trips or travel as often as we can because learning is so much more fun when you are seeing or doing!

Last week we took a trip to the ocean and visited the Monterey Bay Aquarium. 

We have been many times, but it's a favorite place of ours and we are always excited to go back. I love watching the kids enthusiastically learning and exploring with wonder and excitement. I love the squeals and the "ooh"s and "ash"s, when they come running to tell me all about something they've just seen or learned or when they eagerly pull me along, bursting with excitement to share it with me. 

Chase's favorite is always the touch pools, especially the Rays and Lily is always quite content with just watching the fish. 

The Jellies are my favorite. I could sit and watch those amazing creatures for hours. 

The Moon Jellies especially. They're so graceful and beautiful. 

We are always excited to see the eels. Eels are just so cool!

So many amazing sea creatures to see. 

We even got to see a cuttlefish ink!!

They learned so much. They learned more about echinoderms, bioluminescence, invertebrates, flightless birds, and the CA coastal habitat, just to name a few. This is the kind of learning they love and the kind they will retain because they were having fun. They come home with a new arsenal of awesome facts, a stronger love for the ocean's animals, and a memory they will continue to cherish.