Educational Benefits of Aquariums Can Offer In Schools!
Having an aquarium can do wonders for children. It inspires cognitive development and sparks the children’s imagination. This helps in improving their social and emotional skills. It has become an important trend these days for schools to install aquariums in the premises. Here are some of the benefits that come with keeping an aquarium in schools and institutions:
Imagination plus creativity
Each aquarium has a small world in it. The fish, rocks, stones, plants, algae, corals and other objects make up a beautiful world that can be observed for hours without boredom. Engaging students in building their own aquarium, in class or activity lessons, allows them to choose and put in things they think would be interesting. This sparks their imagination and creativity.
Responsibility
Looking after the aquarium and the pet fish can make children more responsible and conscious about their actions in their surroundings. Teaching them about needs of the fish can help them become more considerate as well. This will teach them social skills that can be applied to humans as well.
Calms down children
Many studies show that simply looking at an aquarium reduces stress and anxiety in children. Fish can be great friends and can be good listening partners as well. Also, looking after pet fish takes up children’s attention which then controls anger as well. Activities and hobbies help children move away from negative emotions. Taking care of an aquarium certainly is one such activity.
Appeals to different types of learners
Interestingly, aquarium is one tool of learning that can cater to numerous types learners. Every child learns differently and there is no sure shot way to completely understand this. However, encouraging children to observe an aquarium and discuss its workings can help them identify their forms of learning and comfortability. Visual learners will be drawn to all the vibrant colours of the fish, plants, sand etc. The auditory learners will be attracted to the sounds of running water, lectures on the working of the fish inside a tank etc. Also, the tactile learners will enjoy all displays with real life objects to touch and learn. The kinesthetic learners will be curiously walking around and exploring the various displays. Therefore, this suits all children of all age groups.
Encourages scientific exploration
Reading about marine life, exploring and observing life inside an aquarium and eventually taking care of the aquarium can lead to massive learning in terms of science. Knowing names, functioning and workings of plants and animals can help a great deal with the minds of children.
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