There’s always something new to see at Blue Planet Aquarium in Cheshire. From Europe’s largest collection of sharks to our flooded forest, you won’t be stuck for things to be amazed by. But if you’re looking to keep those bright minds sharp, we’ve put together ten essential questions to keep kids on their toes… or fins!
Questions to ask children at the aquarium
Whether you’re a teacher bringing kids to the Blue Planet Aquarium on a school trip or a parent with curious children, you can ask them the questions we’ve put together below.
Can you name a TV show or film with a famous fish or sea creature?
Your list could include Blue Planet (of course!), The Little Mermaid, Shark Tale, Spongebob, Finding Nemo/Dory, Octonauts, Ponyo, Free Willy, Moana, Happy Feet, Atlantis, Pirates of the Caribbean… and more!
Can you find fish in all the colours of the rainbow?
Our fish come in all shapes, sizes and colours, so why not see how many colours of the rainbow you can spot? Tick them off as you go: Red, orange, yellow, green, blue, purple and pink! We recommend looking for our angelfish, clownfish and tang species to tick off most of the rainbow.
What is the biggest sea creature?
Blue whales are the biggest marine creatures in the world’s oceans, closely followed by the fin whale and whale shark.
As a bonus question, you can ask if they know what the biggest creature at the aquarium is. The answer? It’s our sand tiger shark at over 30 years old and weighing over 40 stone!
Can you find the smallest animal in the aquarium?
While there are plenty of exciting larger marine species, we’re also home to lots of eye-catching smaller creatures worth looking out for. From guppies to different tetra species, you can list their sizes from their informational boards or simply by looking at them.
What would you name the aquarium animals?
Let your imagination run wild and get to work on naming each of the aquarium animals based on anything and everything, including their colour, size and resemblances to other objects.
If you could be an animal, what would you be?
Let children take their pick of any sea animal they’d like to be and explain the reasons behind their choice. Seeing all the different species around the exhibits can inspire the imagination to run free.
Some sea creatures actually can be other species! Well, almost. The cuttlefish can camouflage to hide from predators, and males sometimes even pretend to be girls to sneak past other males!
Do you know what a habitat is?
Organisms (plants and animals) live in habitats that are suitable for them and meet their environmental needs. There are five main habitat types on our planet, including forests, rainforests, deserts, polar and water. While each of these is totally different, each one has food, water, shelter and space.
Do you know what the most intelligent sea creature is?
Many sea creatures are highly intelligent and have adapted over time to develop clever skills. Bottlenose dolphins, octopuses, sea otters, and orcas are among the most intelligent creatures in the world. They can solve mazes, mimic human behaviour and even recognise faces.
Can you name the different types of animals?
There are six animal groups, including fish, amphibians, mammals, birds, reptiles and insects. See how many of the different types you can spot at Blue Planet Aquarium!
Which animals are related to dinosaurs?
Even to this day, animals that co-existed with dinosaurs are roaming the planet, from crocodiles and snakes to bees and lobsters, making their ancestry hundreds of millions of years old.
How can we protect our oceans and animals?
We’re all about conservation here, so it’s important to open up discussions about how we can protect the oceans and sea creatures. From activities to do as a family to things you can do at home, brainstorming ways to help the planet as you tour the aquarium is a great idea.
What’s your favourite animal at the aquarium?
Everyone will have a different favourite animal, and this might even change from visit to visit! We think it’s a great idea to ask children what their favourite was and why, since it shows what they’ve learned from the day out and the memories they have from it.
Can you spot these animals at the aquarium?
We’ve created a worksheet to help families and school children get more from a visit to Blue Planet Aquarium. Our checklist contains a range of animals that you’ll find at the aquarium – tick them off as you see them! You can also try to answer the questions on the sheet by speaking to our knowledgeable aquarists and reading information boards dotted around the aquarium.
Can You Spot These Animals at the Aquarium Blue Planet Aquarium – Download here!
Purchase your tickets in advance for your next visit to Blue Planet Aquarium and check our visitor information to help plan the perfect day!