Instructions for Gulf Specimen Worksheets

Worksheets with one picture of an organism and a description can be used as an introduction to some of the animals the children will interact with during a visit to Gulf Specimen. Please do not let our instructions limit you however, a great imagination is required equipment at our labs!


The activity worksheets are designed to be used after your visit to Gulf Specimen. Directions for their use can be found on each worksheet.

Have your students draw a picture of their favorite animal or person during their visit to Gulf Specimen and write a sentence explaining why.



Prepare a scavenger hunt for your students that can be carried out during their time at the touchtanks. Examples of things they can look for are:

• An animal that is pink (or any color)
• An animal that has five legs (or any number)
• An animal that doesn't have any eyes
• A plant
• An animal that crawls
• An animal that swims

This is a Left Handed Whelk.
It is a snail that likes to eat clams.

This is a Sea anemone.
It catches food with its tentacles.

This is a Starfish.
Can you count the arms?

These are sea urchins.
Sea urchins have lots of spines!

This is called an upside-down jellyfish.
This kind of jellyfish doesn't sting!

This is Orange Devil's Finger Sponge
Sponges are animals!
Ask your teacher if you can color the sponge orange.

	stings
Pufferfish
	hides in the sand
Stingray
	electric shock
Flounder
	puffs up
Catfish
	swims in schools
Electric Ray

Directions: Remember the nurse shark? Circle the animals the nurse shark likes to eat and cross out what they don't.
	Catfish
	Pufferfish
	Spiney Lobster
	Stingray
	Flounder