Marine Marvels: Exploring Careers Beneath the Waves

Created in partnership with St. Lucie County Public Schools, this program introduces 4th-grade students to diverse marine science careers and role models. Along the way, learners explore locally relevant ocean challenges and discover how both professionals and everyday people can make a difference.

Learners participate in three 6-week learning cycles. In each cycle, they will:

  • Meet a professional guest presenter
  • Join a live video call with Q&A
  • Complete scenario-based tasks and mini environmental challenges
  • Build their Book of Ocean Heroes

This page is your hub for all curriculum materials, video call recordings, and general information about the program. Teachers in participating schools will have access to each learning cycle’s resources at least two weeks before the start date.

2025 Learning Cycles

Learning Cycle 1: Sea Turtle Research and Conservation

Lesson 1: An Introduction to Sea Turtles!

Students engage in a conservation scenario, reflect on prior knowledge, and generate questions for the Guest Presenter.

Curriculum materials:

  • Preliminary Activity (1 per student)
    • Please offer this to students prior to the lesson. This will test their previous knowledge before exposure to the program. 
  • Lesson 1 Slides
    • You will need vertical whiteboard space for the thinking tasks

Lesson 2: Video Call with Sea Turtle Biologist, Andie Fisher

Students join a 30-minute live call to learn about Andie’s career and current work, followed by a 10-minute Q&A using pre-submitted class questions.

Curriculum materials:

Meet Andie Fisher: Biologist at Inwater Research Group

Describe your job:

My job focuses on sea turtle research and conservation, with the goal of better understanding sea turtles and helping protect them and their environments. That means I collect information about the turtles I catch, rescue injured turtles and get them the care they need, manage research projects, publish papers on what I discover, and share what I learn with others so we can take better care of these amazing animals.

What are the top 3-5 most valuable skills you bring into your work?

  1. Asking questions and staying curious about the world around me.
  2. Adapting to outdoor work and challenging conditions.
  3. Capturing and handling large marine animals safely.
  4. Organizing and paying close attention to detail when collecting data and planning research.

What do you love most about your work?

I love that every day I get to feel like I’m making a real difference in sea turtle conservation. Whether I’m collecting important data, building new research partnerships, analyzing and writing about insights we’ve discovered, rescuing an injured animal, or sharing our work with students and others around the world, it all matters. No two days are the same, and when you work with animals – you never know what surprises are coming!

What keeps you inspired to do your work when things get challenging?

I’m constantly inspired by the dedication of my friends and colleagues who work hard to protect these animals and their habitats. Conservation takes teamwork, locally and globally, and I feel lucky to be part of that effort every day.

What advice or insight would you offer to someone following in your footsteps?

Stay curious and don’t be afraid to try something new—even if you’re not sure you’ll like it. You never know what might spark your interest and grow into a lifelong passion or career!

Lessons 3 & 4: Career Simulation Activity 

Students complete an activity matching professional roles to environmental challenges affecting sea turtles.

Curriculum materials:

Lessons 5-6: Program-wide Project Work

Students begin creating their Book of Ocean Heroes, which will be displayed at the Elementary Science and Social Studies Showcase (April 2026). Work through this project at your own pace—expect at least 2–3 class periods per cycle.

Curriculum materials:

Note: If multiple students select the same ocean threat, encourage them to highlight different professions so the final showcase includes a variety of roles.

Learning Cycle 2: Science Communication

Saint Lucie County Teachers: Please note that due to constraints in the academic calendar, the usual order of lessons has been altered. Instead of working on the “Book of Ocean Heroes” at the end of the learning cycle, you will do so in weeks 2 and 3.

Lesson 1: Message to Planet Aqua – What do we need to communicate effectively?

Students: engage in the fictional scenario, reflect on the importance of clear, effective, and engaging science communication, and generate questions for the Guest Presenter.

Curriculum materials:

Lessons 2 and 3: Self-directed work on the Book of Ocean Heroes Project

Teachers determine how to structure and pace this work according to their classroom needs. 

Refer to the Program-wide Project Work section of this website under Learning Cycle 1 to find project resources. 

Lesson 4: Video Call with Science Communicator and Human Dimensions Researcher, Nia Morales

Students join a 30-minute live call to learn about Nia’s career and current work, followed by a 10-minute Q&A using pre-submitted class questions.

Curriculum materials:

Meet Nia Morales: Assistant Professor in Human Dimensions of Wildlife Conservation in the Department of Wildlife Ecology and Conservation, University of Florida

Describe your job:

I teach classes and do research about how people affect nature and wildlife. I try to understand why people behave in certain ways so that we can encourage them to do positive things for the environment.

What are the top 3-5 most valuable skills you bring into your work?

  1. I try to be a good person and treat my students fairly.
  2. I am inquisitive (meaning I like asking questions and seeking answers about how the world works).
  3. I am open-minded.

What do you love most about your work?

I really enjoy teaching students about my field. Many of them are studying to be biologists and they have not really thought about how humans impact nature, so my classes are usually very different from what they are used to.

What keeps you inspired to do your work when things get challenging?

When I started out, I also wanted to be a biologist, and never really thought about the human side of conservation… I want to expose students early on so that they know about these things BEFORE getting careers, because I believe it helps them to be better biologists when they know about not just the animals and habitats, but the human side too.

What advice or insight would you offer to someone following in your footsteps?

I think a lot of life is about taking opportunities to explore new things. You might find you really like it, or you really don’t, and both are fine!

Lessons 5 & 6: Career Simulation Activity

Students complete an activity where they gather a team of science communication roles and tools to plan a conservation awareness campaign. 

Curriculum materials:

Learning Cycle 3: Science Journalism

Lesson 1: True or Untrue? Activity and Questions for Guest Speaker

Students will evaluate marine news stories and social media posts to determine whether they are based on truth or not. After reflecting on how difficult it is nowadays to differentiate between real and false footage, they will generate questions for the Guest Presenter.

Curriculum materials:

Lesson 2: Video Call with Science Journalist and Communicator, Madison Dapcevich

Students join a 30-minute live call to learn about Madison’s career and current work, followed by a 10-minute Q&A using pre-submitted class questions.

Curriculum materials:

  • Watch the live recording: click the link below!

Meet Madison Dapcevich: Associate Editor for Outside Magazine and Communication Lead, E/V Nautilus

Describe your job:

As a science journalist, my job allows me the opportunity to explore the world – from mountain peaks to the deepest parts of our ocean. I find people, places, and new discoveries, and create articles, videos, and other content to share these stories with the world.

What are the top 3-5 most valuable skills you bring into your work?

  1. The ability to write, edit, and read to tell stories.
  2. Being able to hold conversations and ask meaningful questions.
  3. Finding adaptive ways of approaching problems. Always, always learning.

What do you love most about your work?

What I love most about my work is that every day presents a new opportunity to learn, whether that’s about a new person, a bizarre scientific discovery, or seeing a place for the first time. I live my life in a constant state of wonder at all the beauty in our world.

What keeps you inspired to do your work when things get challenging?

I am inspired by students like you! You are the future of our world, and your interests matter. What I learn in my work will inspire your work one day, and connecting with you all keeps me motivated every day.

What advice or insight would you offer to someone following in your footsteps?

Stay inquisitive! The brightest, smartest, and most talented people in this world are the ones who approach every day with an open mind and a desire to continue learning. Ask questions, stay passionate, and follow your dreams. There will, of course, be challenges along the way, whatever path you choose, but you are stronger than you believe! Truly, you can accomplish anything that you put your mind to. I believe in you!

Lesson 3: Career Simulation Activity

Students put on their journalistic hats, identifying trustworthy sources and key facts for a news story about the arrival of sea turtle season. 

Curriculum materials:

Lesson 4: Post Program Activity

Students revisit the preliminary sketch activity. Now they have been exposed to different marine professionals, they are tasked once again, with showcasing their idea of what a marine professional looks like at work. 

Curriculum materials:

Lessons 4-6: Finish Book of Ocean Heroes Project

See Lessons 5-6: Program-wide Project Work section under Learning Cycle One for files and instructions. SLC Schools groups will complete these for their annual showcase. 

If you have any questions or would like to learn more about our Marine Marvels program, please contact our K-12 Program Coordinator, Claire Sullivan (csullivan@inwater.org).