students and microscopes

Shellfish Biology Lab (Grades 4-12)

Oyster with labels
This program begins with an introduction to shellfish, and follows with students working in teams to use a dichotomous key to identify local shells.

Then a guided live oyster dissection helps students locate key features such as the adductor muscle, mantle, tentacles, gills, stomach, and gonad.

This is a fantastic opportunity to enhance any invertebrate or marine science unit and can be customized to focus on topics covered in your own classroom.

Duration: 1 hour (can be extended to 1.5 hours)Cost: $125 (to $200 for 1.5 hour version)

**This program is offered on the Nanaimo Campus and at the Deep Bay Marine Field Station**

  • Grade 7 Science: Organisms have evolved over time; survival needs
  • Grade 8 Science: Relationship of micro-organisms with living things
  • Grade 9 Science: Matter cycles within biotic and abiotic components of ecosystems
  • Grade 11 Biology: Features and structure of living things
  • Grade 12 Environmental Science: Human and other influences on natural systems; leadership, innovation, and action for sustainable systems and communities
students outside viu

Book Your Field Trip

Get started by filling out our booking request form for one of the following locations.

Nanaimo Main CampusDeep Bay Marine Field Station