• Descriptions of the field trips and relevant activities and lessons will be available in advance of the broadcasts. Prior to the field trip, explore with your class the concepts that will be addressed by downloading and completing educational activities and lessons with your students.
• Watch previous EstuaryLive broadcasts and videos with your class. Access archived EstuaryLive broadcasts. 
• Learn more about estuaries with your students by visiting the "About Estuaries" section of the site.
• Explore, compare and contrast the dynamic estuarine reserves around the country.

Encourage student research questions and projects

• Have your students develop a research project on a concept addressed by one of the EstuaryLive programs or on one of the estuaries featured.
• Have your students draft questions on particular topics they might be interested in learning more about. For example, questions about the animals or plants that live in an estuary, the different type of estuaries and estuarine habitats and the importance of tides all would be appropriate. You can even send some of your questions to the field trip leaders in advance of the field trip.

Encourage student participation in outreach events

• Work with your students to organize an activity to celebrate National Estuaries Day or Earth Day! The involvement will build appreciation for our ecosystems and will teach good stewardship practices.
• If applicable, invite an Education Coordinator from one of NOAA's nearby National Estuarine Research Reserve to give a presentation on their estuary.

Test student knowlege

• Ask your students to find an estuary on a map and discuss the specific characteristics of this estuary, the type of estuary it is and the kind of plants and animals you might find in that particular estuary. This can be a very useful way to start an exercise in comparing estuaries.
• Measure your student’s successes by applying a pre and a post test. If you would like to participate in our evaluation of EstuaryLive by having your students complete our pre and post tests, contact us.

EstuaryLive is different from simply watching a movie or a video. Students in the classroom have the ability to ask what something feels like, smells like or even tastes like. This program provides students with an exciting and new tool to learn about these unique ecosystems. EstuaryLive inspires students to learn by providing them with the opportunity to guide their scientific discoveries through questions. By trying out some or all of the preparation activities above, your students will be positioned to shape the field trip that they are taking over the Internet.

HAVE FUN preparing and participating in the program!