Need some ideas please!

[Jacwil]

So lucky for me our kids love our SW hobby! It is def a family affair. Last yr our twin 2nd graders showed different symbiotic relationships within our oceanic ecosystem, for their Science Fair Project. They did a big display board with different examples as well as me bringing in a tank with a clown and a BTA...FUN!

This year they want to stick with the same hobby-themed premise, lucky for MOI, but has to be obviously different.

When asked for ideas they've come up with "How does water temp affect fish," as well "How intelligent are Mantis shrimp?" lol They love our Peacock Mantis, Molly.

I'm curious as to any other somewhat simple, age appropriate ideas that others may have.

I'm just thrilled it has to be something I'm interested in as well

TIA!!! :fish2:

 

[Henry Colf]

How about the basics in setting up a salt water tank or how about coral propagation and how there are coral farms that are raising corals to re seed some of the reefs.

 

[shroutk3]

How does temperature affect specific gravity would be super easy to test and really fits science fair type testing- independent, dependent variables etc.

 

[Gary Majchrzak]

I let my kids take some mini carpet anemones to school. The kids loved how sticky they were.

 

[Jacwil]

All great ideas! I do like the coral prop idea and "helping the reef" concept but would want to have more details/testing like sk3 mentioned.

FYI I'll be using an Aqueon Evolve 2g All-In-One with it's cheap but functional blue/white led arm. Only 9x9x10 but I think it will be well-suited for this purpose.

 

[rjmayes34]

you could do something simple like a clean up crew and how important they are for a tank, snails, blue leg hermits, starfish, shrimp

 

[Jacwil]

Yea, Ryan, maybe I could incorporate that into it as well...thx!

 

[Capt_Cully]

Allelopathic coral warfare comes to mind. In and of itself, it's a bit complex, but in its simplest form, corals are living things that eat, grow, and compete, violently if necessary.

Kids might smash their faces up against the glass to learn more. It's a hip green topic. Might not be easy to demonstrate though.

I like RJs idea too about the clean up crew. Kids (of all ages) love to hear about something eating poop

 

[magdelan]

I don't how mundane or complex you are trying to get here, but why not explain the importance of "Specific Gravity" and how it can make a person's mass lessen when in a high gravity volume of water. For example, a 100 pound person weighs aproximentally 8 pounds in water. Find out what the body weighs in different gravities (Ocean vs. Dead Sea). Then make a correlation between water and outer space. Kids love outer space.

 

[Jacwil]

Great stuff folks! Very much appreciated!

I'll discuss this with the boys and see which theyre most intrigued with!

 

[GMaquarium]

Kids love starfish. A little touch tank would be cool. Talk about how thy regrow their limbs and such.

 

[amazo]

I like the rebuilding of the reef idea.They could explain how its built in the 1st place and what is going on to help repair it and what things have damaged it in the 1st place. My kids love the tanks as well my 4 year old has a hard time telling you her age but knows all about our fish and seahorses,we just started a small fresh water tank in the girls room bc she insisted and used her birthday money to buy some fish.

 

[Jacwil]

I like that idea as well amazo...thanks!

 

[Reeferz412]

You can discuss the zooxanthellae within corals and why they have different vibrant colors and why our reefs are being threatened due to calcium carbonate deterioration and elevated temperatures.

 

[Jacwil]

Another great idea Reeferz! Thx very much for the input!

We have lots of options now thx to all of you! We appreciate it and i will post some pics on event day!