Teaching Kids

[Jlowe812]

I am participating in the Great American Teach in where I have an opportunity to talk to elementary school kids about SCUBA. I am looking for some suggestions about what exactly to do. Should I bring in all the equipment for a dive, should I only bring the vest and skin gear?? Any suggestions would be appreciated. I am doing this because my grandsons asked me to as he is in the class and I would like to keep from embarasing him, and me!!

Thanks,

Jan

 

[SeaCobra]

what is the format and age group of the presentation? kids like to be interactive. have stuff their size so they can try on something, even if just a mask or wetsuit gloves.

 

[Rhone Man]

To get their undivided attention, bring the biggest speargun you could find. And think up a good story about sharks.

 

[DivemasterDennis]

I have had the chance to do what you are doing, and I was lucky enough to have a mannequin loaned to me. I also had some video of people diving, and as the video played I geared up the mannequin, explaining each piece of equipment and what it was for. I included a safety sausage, mirror and whistle, and omitted any knife or spear gun. ( Sorry guys, you can't take those to schools). The kids' comments gave me more ideas for the next presentation- they commented that it was like an astronaut dressing up for space, so I added a picture of an astronaut on a space walk for comparison. After many asked to try on gear that was just too big for them, I started taking kid sized gear from my local dive shop: kid sized bcd and small tank (20 cu,ft. I think), kid fins and mask, and regulator. I ask for a volunteer to try on the gear, and everyone it seems wants to try it. I had time to put it on several. I think the key to these presentations is to be visual- videos are great, and the more "stuff" you bring, the better. I brought the Sea Life camera I took the video with to show that, and kids were very interested in that too. Don't lecture. Do "show and tell," and expect to be interrupted constantly with questions and comments. If a question is asked, answer it right away, don't say "I'll get to that." Presenting scuba to kids is almost as much fun as diving. If you don't have the use of a mannequin, do try to get kid sized stuff for your presentation. If you have to go with one or the other, do kid sized stuff, and let one of the students (or more) be your "model." And of course, underwater video for sure.
In my limited experience, here are the questions I have had, and which I think you are likely to get too:
How deep have you gone?
Is it scary?
Aren't you afraid of sharks?
Can you drown while you are diving?
Does it cost a lot?
How old do you have to be to go diving?
Is it dark in the bottom of the ocean?
How deep is the ocean?
Have a great time, and report back to us on this thread how it went and what worked and what didn't.
DivemasterDennis

 

[MXGratefulDiver]

I had the opportunity to participate with another instructor in a presentation to some fifth and sixth graders a few years back, and what we did was ...

- make a short (10 minute) photo show of what we see down there
- have a short (10 minute) discussion about how living near a coastline affects the fish and other marine life
- bring in all of our scuba gear to show ... even letting the kids breathe off the regulator to see what it feels like (using disinfectant wipes on the mouthpiece to keep the science experiments to a minimum)
- have a brief (10 minute) question and answer period ... the kids WILL ask about sharks ...

Altogether about 45 minutes. Breaking it up into multiple "shows" helps keep their attention ...

... Bob (Grateful Diver)

 

[tyesai]

I've never had the opportunity to do a SCUBA presentation for kids but NWGratefulDiver makes a great point. Be brief....

 

[Jim Lapenta]

In some cases. It really depends on your audience. I have two groups this weekend of 22 girl scouts in each group. I thought it was last weekend and showed up at the site and was somewhat embarrassed to realize DEMA really messed up my mental schedule.

In any case I have developed a program to go with the snorkeling and skin diving we will do focusing on conservation and in the first session, careers for women in diving. Thanks to a lot of encouragement from Jill Heinerth, Evie Dudas, and A good friend Dana Kerjes who is a NAUI CD and was at one time director of scuba training at NASA's Huntsville facility as well as material from the women divers hall of fame, these kids are enthralled by the fact that scuba and skin diving is not just for recreation.

I take basic snorkeling gear to go over and a few items like an UW Camera and wetnotes. The program is 3 phases and during the 3rd phase I will bring scuba gear. If you use visual aids you will be much more successful. For a non formal program or presentation allow them to set the tone. Kids are not dumb. they will ask questions. Good ones. be ready with the answers. Never make anything up. If you don't know something say so and tell them you will find out or direct them to somewhere they can get the answer themselves. Library, internet, aquarium, and lastly local dive shop if one is convenient.

One thing I have found will make them tune out is if it appears you are going from a script. Be flexible.

 

[k ellis]

I have the lovely job of giving speaches to children at our local aquarium. One thing I find very useful is the backdrop of the aquarium as it is an instant relationship. (I know lugging a 65,000 gallon aquarium to a school presentation would be quite a task) but none the less children are very impressionable. One thing I have found very useful is to add a slight amount of humor to the gig too as it gets them to laugh and be interested to listen more. Kids love it when I tell them the Parrot Fish has a beautiful beak and we spend a lot of time putting her lipstick on before the show and getting makeup just right!

As Jim said the last thing you want to do is look like your reading a cue card at the back of the room. Be natural with your story line and details and just let them listen. They will enjoy it I promise!!!!!!

Another thing and it touches on what Jim added and thats dont ever back your self into a corner. What I mean is explain and stay focused on topics you know and understand. Dont try to explain a rebreather for example if you have never used one.

Last but not least!!!!! For the love of the ocean and the joy so many divers past, future and present PLEASE make sure to add in simple detail they will always remember. Such as when swimming, diving or just playing in the water to avoid the coral and polluting the waters. These are things that could make a huge difference by listening to you tell them how sensitive the waters are. Make sure you remind them the golden rule of scuba applies to anything aquatic. Look all you like and take all the photos your heart desires but leave only bubbles and no hand or foot prints on anything living!

 

[Thalassamania]

Kids want to hear critter tales: sharks, rays, whales, dolphins, orcas, octopus, sea lions, seals, penguins, giant jellies, etc. There is your hook, once you have "set it" you can go on to what it takes to prepare for such experiences.

 

[Jlowe812]

I used a combination of several of your suggestions. The kids loved it and I was careful to leave them with the don't touch the coral or animals and keep the ocean and rivers clean. It is the home of our marine friends and we are just visitors in it!! Thanks again to all of you