Discovery Lab
Water Quality of Puget Sound (High School) - Students learn the parameters that researchers use to evaluate the heath of Puget Sound. They take readings and gather water quality data around the PTMSC and use the results to discuss the state of the Sound. 1.5 hours 
Oxygen in the Water (Middle School) - Students discover the importance of dissolved oxygen in our marine waters. They learn what adds or removes dissolved oxygen and how these changes affect marine organisms. Students set up experiments observing barnacles to understand how these changes affect animal behavior. 1.5 hours
Density Currents (Grades 4th - 5th) - Puget Sound is an estuary, a place where fresh water and salt water come together. Students design experiments in order to observe what happens when fresh and salt water meets. Salinity data is collected using several different methods, and students discuss how the estuarine environment affects animal behavior and physiology. 1.5 hours
Life on the Edge (Grades K-3rd) - Students rotate through three lab stations in small groups. In station one, Tide Pools, students use our touch tanks to discover colors, shapes, textures, movements and habitats of local marine animals. In station two, Life on the Rocky Shore, students learn about high and low tides and the challenges they present to marine animals. At station three, Snail Races, students experiment with live marine snails to see how they are adapted physically and behaviorally to life in the wave tossed intertidal. 1.5 hours