Preschool Presentation, Florida, March 7, 2019

Silent Hunter Crew: Dr. Tristan and Annie Guttridge

Objective: To introduce young children, age two to seven, to the marine world, though photography, videography, scientific equipment, and novel, fun objects.

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The teachers were very welcoming and had two rooms ready for our presentations. Tristan set up the projector, marine toys, tagging equipment, and other items in one room, while Annie organized her dive equipment, cameras, and prints in the other.

The plan was for each of us to present to seven classes of about twelve children each, which would allow us to cover two different topical areas and give each class unique interactions and opportunities to learn and ask questions.

Tristan presented his talk with images projected on a large screen, followed by fun interaction, asking the children to identify a variety of marine animals. The children absolutely loved what appeared to be a game, but was a valuable educational exercise. They discussed what makes a shark a shark, and how many sharks do not look like the typical torpedo shape most are familiar with.

Next up, Tristan explained the shark research we conduct, why it’s important, and how we take the samples needed. Tristan gave the children a PIT tag to hide in the classroom, he then searched for and found with the PIT tag reader, which was a fun and engaging way to demonstrate how PIT tags work and how we find them in sharks. Children as young as three were able to grasp the concept through this entertaining and illustrative exercise.

In Annie’s classes, the children were given wetsuits, rash guards, masks, snorkels, fins, and related gear to investigate. They were then asked to identify the items and guess their uses. The children thoroughly enjoyed handling the gear and learning their uses. Annie spoke about the importance of sun protection for the skin, the warmth a wetsuit provides, the need for a mask to see underwater, a snorkel to breathe, and fins to reduce fatigue. Lastly she spoke about taking a large breath of air to fill your lungs before making a freedive.

When Annie discussed the art of freediving, most of the children found it fascinating, and very relatable as well, since they go swimming wearing goggles, and could imagine what diving in the ocean with sharks, rays, and turtles would be like! With the children’s imaginations ignited, Annie introduced her cameras and a selection of images, explaining the techniques used to capture the moments, and the importance of being quiet in the water. Due to the age group, the emphasis was placed on peaceful, respectful interactions with wildlife rather than the technical aspects of underwater photography. The children were hooked!

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THANK YOU

These educational presentations really do engage children and adults alike, and we would like to take this opportunity to thank the school for inviting us to talk, and for allowing us the chance to share our passion with the children.

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