Connect2Texas
Texas Parks and Wildlife Department
Connect Your Students to Our Science Distance Learning Programs
To continue to support our communities, TPWD will be offering a new series of FREE distance learning programs to help connect students to TPWD’s biologists and interpreters LIVE from their home.
All you need is a device with an Internet connection. If you plan to use a smartphone or tablet to connect, make sure you download the Zoom app before the program begins.
Use the links below to register for each program. Registrations are limited, so please register in advance. After you register, you will receive a confirmation email with connection details. If the event gets cancelled, you will receive an email saying your registration has been cancelled.
Questions? Email distance.learning@tpwd.texas.gov
Click here for upcoming events.
Free Educational Program Recordings
With school closures and students stuck at home, we wanted to pass along some of our recorded programs since live connections may not be an option. Share these programs with parents or incorporate them into your online lessons and homework.
No registration is required. Students can watch these recordings anytime. If worksheets are available you can download the attachment by clicking on "About" once you start the video.
Bite Size Research (Grades 4-6) (worksheets included)
Is this fish a carnivore, herbivore or omnivore? Where does it fit in the food web? These are some of the questions marine biologists may ask when they’re trying to learn more about ocean life. But how do they answer these questions? By dissecting and examining the contents of a fish’s stomach, scientists can learn more about a specific fish species and their role in an ecosystem. Now it’s your turn! During this program, participants will identify and test a hypothesis using model black drum and alligator gar stomachs.
Interview with TPWD Coastal Fisheries Biologist: Habitat Assessment Team (Grades 6-12)
During this webinar, you’ll get the chance hear from a member of the Coastal Fisheries Division’s Habitat Assessment Team. This team studies coastal habitats including oyster reefs, seagrass beds, and coastal wetlands. Natural Resource Specialist, Jake Harris, will walk us through a typical day as a Coastal Fisheries field biologist and answer your questions about working for TPWD.
Monarchs and Milkweed (Grades 4-7)
It’s springtime and that means butterflies and flowers are beginning to appear around us, such as monarchs and milkweed. Learn more about how monarch butterflies fit into the insect world, learn about the diversity of milkweed species, and find out more about why monarch butterflies rely on milkweed plants to survive!
Virtual Tour of Sea Center Texas (All ages)
Have you been wanting to tour the aquarium, but haven’t been able to make the trip to Sea Center Texas? Join us for a virtual tour! We’ll stop by each exhibit and learn about the species on display, and we’ll even take you behind the scenes to see the mechanical side of aquaria. Come curious and prepared with questions, as we will have staff on hand to answer all your inquiries.
Coastal Crypsis (Grades 3-5) (worksheets included)
It's not always easy living in the deep blue sea, and many marine organisms depend on disguise for survival. From camouflaged flounder, to counter-shaded sharks, to mimicking anglerfish, different species of marine animals employ different forms of crypsis. Let's take a closer look at the ocean and uncover these masters of disguise.Coastal Science Investigation (Grades 4-12) (worksheets included)
TPWD's Coastal Fisheries Kills and Spills Team are marine biologists who are trained to determine the probable cause of large-scale fish kills in Texas bays and the Gulf of Mexico. During this program, we'll meet up with members of the Kills and Spills Team to act as fish crime-scene investigators at a real fish kill. In this CSI-inspired investigation, we'll use environmental clues like dissolved oxygen, salinity, and water samples to figure out whodunnit.
Diamondback Terrapins (Grades 3-5) (worksheets included)
Diamondback terrapins, America’s only brackish water turtle, faced a severe population decline in the late 1800s. At the time, turtle soup was a popular dish, and terrapins were nearly hunted to extinction. Join Sea Center Texas to learn how careful conservation planning saved this species from demise. We’ll learn all about the terrapin’s biology, life cycle, and habitat, as well as the current threats to the population. You’ll even get to meet Sea Center’s resident terrapin, Truman!
Did You Hear That? - Otoliths and Their Functions (Grades 4-8) (worksheets included)
Come to our lab to discover the 'ear' bone in fish and decipher the story it tells us. Learn with Brian and Jo as they find these bones and uncover the life history of a sea explorer. Adventure awaits.Diving into Science (Grades 6-12)
Join TPWD's Artificial Reefs Program to get a fish-eye-view of the artificial reefs along the Texas coast! Learn about how we monitor these ecosystems with very little impact to its inhabitants.
DNA and Fisheries Management (Grades 7-12)
Venture into the TPWD Coastal Fisheries genetics lab and see how the team uses information at the cellular level to answer management questions about fish and invertebrates in marine systems.
Gobbling the Gulf (Grades 1-4) (worksheets included)
Did you know that your favorite food is full of energy? Did you know that energy flows between all living things? Join Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Sea Center staff to learn how all creatures are connected through the food chain. Be prepared to learn some cool science, play some games, and watch a video of Sea Center’s fish at feeding time!
Ocean Commotion (Grades 3-4)
Dive into the world of oceanography and explore the chemistry, biology, and conservation of the deep blue sea. Put on your lab coat and join me as we explore pH, salinity, and other aspects of seawater chemistry.
Seagrass Science (Grades 4-6) (worksheets included)
In this program, Texas Parks and Wildlife Department's Coastal Fisheries biologists will take students below the water's surface to learn about marine flowering plants. Students will get the opportunity to view each of the five types of seagrass that live in the shallow Texas bays and learn why seagrass is such an important habitat for marine critters and people who live in coastal areas.
Squidding Around (Grades 1-4) (worksheets included)
What has eight arms and two tentacles, blue blood, and can disappear into a cloud of ink? Glove up and get ready for an ooey-gooey, squid-tastic dissection where we will learn all about the bizarre biology of cephalopods.
Texas State Parks: Mustang Island (Grades 4-8) (worksheets included)
Join Ranger Eric for a tour around Mustang Island State Park! This state park is located on Mustang Island, one of Texas' barrier islands. During this program, students will learn about terrestrial and marine habitats found here along with some of the critters that inhabit these areas.
Texas Waters: We All Live Downstream (Grades 5-12)
Every living thing needs water and in Texas we all live downstream. Learn about the hydrologic cycle, the importance of water, and what you can do to protect it.
Wonderful Wetlands! (Grades 1-4)
A healthy wetland habitat should be teeming with tadpoles and exploding with insects. Let's dip into the wetlands at Sea Center Texas to see what creatures we can find. We'll examine some invertebrates under the microscope, use identification charts to determine what species we find, and analyze the health of the environment based on our discoveries.The views and opinions expressed are those of the contributing members of Connect2Texas and do not necessarily represent the views of the Education Service Center Region 11. While some content is deemed appropriate for various curriculum standards used by viewers nationwide, most content providers make an effort to tie their content to the Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS).
Connect2Texas
Email: c2tx@esc11.net
Website: www.connect2texas.net
Location: Fort Worth, TX, United States
Phone: 817-740-7516
Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/pages/Connect2Texas/178380812237957
Twitter: @connect2texas