School activities

Elementary level
Secondary level


Elementary level

Objectives of the Ministère de l’Éducation, Loisir et Sport du Québec
In its Programme de formation de l’école québécoise, the Ministère de l’Éducation, Loisir et Sport du Québec stresses the importance of learning natural sciences to understand the world we live in.

Objectives of the first cycle:

Objectives of the second and third cycles:

Through its educational programme, Exploramer contributes to reinforce students’ competences in science while they enjoy discovering the marine world. To achieve this, Exploramer uses a wide variety of resources:

Description of educational activities
All of Exploramer’s educational activities have been conceived with the aim of having students acquire knowledge in the natural sciences in an entertaining way.

Each school group visit includes a minimum of two activities: a basic one, A dive in cold waters, and another one chosen by the teacher. All other activities are at an additional cost.

The [·] symbol accompanying certain descriptions indicates that it is an outdoor activity, weather permitting. If you choose such an activity, it would therefore be preferable to have another one in mind in case of bad weather.

1. A dive in cold waters (basic activity)
The St. Lawrence River shelters a multitude of mysterious animals, sometimes so strange that we wonder if they are living beings or not, plants or animals. According to grade level, students will learn to distinguish living organisms through questions and the observation of the aquariums, tell the difference between animals and plants and understand in what ways the form of the living beings is adapted to their environment. They will also have the opportunity of getting their fingers wet in our famous tactile basins.

2. United for life – The secret of whales
With the help of original and colourful costumes, some students will disguise themselves as marine organisms in order to reconstitute the underwater food chain. This original and dynamic activity enables students to acquire knowledge about marine organisms, the links existing between them as well as the impact of humans on this chain. Moreover, again with the help of costumes, they will discover how whales (or mammals) can live under water.

3. Sea rally
While searching through the rubble of the museum, we come upon the log book having belonged to Captain Cook who explored the waters of the St. Lawrence River a long time ago. The manuscript reveals that the Captain and his crew found a treasure in the St. Lawrence but…the last page is torn off just as the treasure is about to be revealed. The only way to find it is to bring Captain Cook back to life. Thus the students set off on an adventure in the seabed looking for the ingredients necessary to revive the Captain so that they can talk with him and discover the treasure. Throughout the rally, the students will have to answer questions by finding the information in the set of exhibitions. An amusing and active way of learning.

4. Budding genius
After a visit at Exploramer, what will the pupils have learned? The quiz encourages the children to think and find the answer that will get their team to stay in the race. Each right answer allows the team to throw a dice and go forward on the giant snakes and ladders type of board game. Mimes, draw me a picture, charades, multiple choice answers, anything goes to learn actively and enjoy it.

5. A treasure hunt on the beach °
At low tide, the beach abounds with secrets that can be uncovered when we know where to look. Accompanied by a facilitating guide, the students will soon have found small hidden animals, vestiges of animals that have deserted their shells, all kinds of algae and many other unknown things. The guide will identify the treasures gathered and their way of life.

6. A maritime work of art
The bank is strewn with treasures coming from the St. Lawrence River that constitute great material and accessories for making crafts. Inspired by the magic of the sea, the students will use their artistic talents to create original and unique works of art with the help of objects found on the beach therefore in connection with the marine environment. A good way to develop the imagination of young artists and make pleasant discoveries.

7. The tale of the mermaid (4 to 6 years) °
In order to console the mermaid that has found shelter in a pirate ship, the children will gather offerings for her on the shore. In fact, the mermaid is sad to see human beings polluting the ocean because now all her friends are sick. With the help of the offerings brought to her, the mermaid will be able to finish her magic potion and heal them. An interactive tale that will heighten students’ awareness of the preservation of the St. Lawrence River.

8. Fisherman for a day °
On board the JV Exploramer, the captain and his young mates will embark on a real fishing trip at sea. Like real fishermen, they will see how crab and whelk pots are raised and will discover what surprises from the sea can be found at the end of the rope. Once the pot is on board, the children will have the pleasure of touching the organisms that were captured and learn more about the way these marine animals live before putting them back into the water.

Duration of each activity: about 45 minutes (except Fisherman for a day which lasts one hour)

* Fisherman for a day is a real outing at sea for a maximum of 18 passengers. Please note that the rate for a sea excursion is different from that of a standard activity.

Secondary level

Objective of the Ministère de l’Éducation. Loisir et Sport du Québec
As dictated by the mission of Exploramer, Explo-Mer is an entertaining and educational activity. It fits in perfectly with the objectives of the new reform of the Ministère de l’Éducation, Loisir et Sport du Québec which must be in application as of September ?

In accordance with this reform, the students are called upon to develop a general scientific culture. To achieve this, the programme aims at developing three essential scientific competences which can be summarized as follows: methodology, conceptualization and communication.

Methodology consists in teaching students how to find answers and solutions to a given problem through the process of a scientific investigation. In the framework of Explo-Mer, the students are called upon to choose a subject then a problem for their research. After that they must make a documentary research in order to discover the answer or a solution to the chosen problem. This way they are brought to undertake an experimental process and are initiated to the importance of scientific rigor.

Conceptualization consists in the acquisition of scientific notions and the transfer of this new knowledge to daily life. The Explo-Mer project enables students to understand and assimilate a subject related to the marine environment and apply it to the St. Lawrence River, the main natural element in their everyday surroundings. Conceptualization is also integrated by the fact that they have to conceive an exhibition through which they will present the results of their research.

Finally, communication enables students to acquire a scientific language and be able to use it adequately. Explo-Mer meets this requirement owing to the fact that the students must present and explain their scientific project to their classmates, teacher, parents and public in general. This exercise means they must master their research subject and be able to make it easily understandable.

Also, the Quebec government’s education reform encourages the opening of schools to exterior resources such as municipalities, museums, research centres, etc. This type of activity also allows students to be in touch with professionals, get acquainted with local resources and discover new career prospects.

Explo-Mer
Description of the activity

First, the activity aims to diversify the traditional way of teaching through an educational project, while raising students’ awareness of the St. Lawrence River, their exceptional regional environment. Secondly, the activity allows to integrate a third party, in this case Exploramer, into pedagogical activities as promoted by Quebec’s education reform.

Inspired by the traditional Expo-Science, the Explo-Mer activity is aimed at Secondary I students in the Science and Technology course. After the visit to Exploramer, the students get together in small groups of two or three and choose a subject they will work on in the following months. Then, after their research, they will have to develop communication tools in order to present under the form of an exhibition, the results of their research work.

In order to give it its own distinctive character, the Expo-Science de la Mer will be called Explo-Mer from now on. Moreover, a pilot project from last year (one school only) will spread to all schools (seven) in the Commission scolaire des Chic-Chocs that is, from Cap-Chat to Gaspé, that have Secondary I students. Explo-Mer will be spread out throughout the year from October to May.

The steps to the realization of the project
a) In October, meetings between the Exploramer team and teachers of the Science and Technology course, school and school board directors, take place;

b) In November, students are invited to visit Exploramer and have a first meeting with the biologist who will follow them throughout the project. During their visit, the students in teams of two or three choose a theme related to the marine environment of the St. Lawrence River that arouses their interest (ex. jelly fish, lobsters, sharks, etc.);

c) During the following months the teachers of the Science and Technology course determine the number of hours a week to be dedicated to the project so that the students can do their research work thoroughly and prepare their exhibition.

d) Twice, in December, January and March, the biologist from Exploramer visits the
teachers in their classroom and orients the teams in the realization of their project.

e) In April, each of the schools has its local Explo-Mer activity where three finalists are chosen to go to the regional finals.

In June, the finalists meet at Exploramer for the finals.