In-Person Small Fry School 

 

Welcome to Small Fry School 2026 - 2027

The 2026 - 2027 Small Fry School sessions will be held weekly on Thursdays at 11:00 a.m. NOW through February 25, 2027! 

Get ready for an under-the-sea adventure with Small Fry School! This FREE educational program invites preschoolers and their grown-ups to explore the amazing animals that live right in our Alaskan backyard at the Alaska SeaLife Center!

Each week, our curious little explorers will dive into the world of sea stars, sea urchins, puffins, seals, sea lions, and more! Through fun videos, hands-on activities, and interactive learning, your Small Fry will discover what makes these animals so special, how they live, and what we have in common. From hopping like a seal to touching a sticky octopus, there's plenty of fun, laughter, and exciting discoveries along the way!

Small Fry School is all about sparking curiosity, connecting little learners with the natural world, and discovering how we can all help keep our oceans and environment healthy and happy.

So gather your Small Frys and join us for some BIG adventures!

Join our Small Fry School Facebook Group to access Pre-K activities from our education  team and connect with other families!  

Stay updated with weekly schedules, curriculum, games, and more. For additional information  email: smallfry@alaskasealife.org or call: 907-224-6306 

*Participants must be accompanied by a parent or guardian.

October Topic: What is the ocean?

10/8/2026 - The Ocean is Big

Explore the incredible size of the ocean and discover its amazing ecosystem through the lens of creatures big and small.

10/15/2026 - The Ocean is a Home

Children will discover how the ocean provides a safe place for creatures to live, and compare these characteristics to their own homes.

10/22/2026 - The Ocean is a Provider

Children will explore ways the ocean provides for Alaskans and our way of life.

10/29/2026 - The Ocean is Full of Life

Children will learn what “life” or “living things” are and go on a scavenger hunt to discover the amazing diversity of life found in the ocean.

*children encouraged to come in costumes!

 

 

November Topic: Light in our oceans!

11/5/2026 - What are Plants?

Learn how plants use the sun to make food and support animals on land and underwater.

11/12/2026 - Plankton: the Foundation of the Ocean

Explore the incredible world of plankton and discover how they help even the largest of animals.

11/19/2026 - Finding Light in the Dark 

Discover how and why some animals make their own light when the sun can’t reach them, and explore the amazing ways they navigate life in the dark.

11/26/2026

(No in-person Small Fry School; activities will be posted to the Small Fry Facebook Page)

 

 

December Topic: How do our ocean animals thrive? (adaptations)

12/3/2026 - What is the Tidal Zone? (Invertebrates)

Discover the amazing ways invertebrates adapt and thrive in the ever-changing world of the tidal zone.

12/10/2026 - How do Seabirds swim? (Seabirds and Shorebirds)

Children will discover, from beak to foot, what makes seabirds and shorebirds special and how they are specially built for their aquatic lifestyle.

12/17/2026 - How do seals stay warm? Marine mammals

Children will imagine what it’s like being a cold-water mammal, and discover the similarities in how people and marine mammals adapt to the cold arctic environment.

12/24/2026

(No in-person Small Fry School; activities will be posted to the Small Fry Facebook Page)

12/31/2026

 (No in-person Small Fry School; activities will be posted to the Small Fry Facebook Page)

 

 

January Topic: Ocean communities!

1/7/2027 - How Do Ocean Animals Communicate?

Explore the many ways animals communicate and connect with one another, just like people do.

1/14/2027 - What Do Families in the Ocean Look Like?

How do animal parents care for their babies? What does growing up in the ocean look like? Discover how animal parents care for their young in different ways.

1/21/2027 - Who Eats Who in the Ocean?

Learn how ocean animals get food and depend on others for their survival, and understand how these connections keep the ocean healthy.

1/28/2027 - How Do People Explore the Ocean?

Explore how people directly connect with the ocean through boats, SCUBA diving, and submarines to discover and learn about ocean life first-hand.

 

 

February Topic: What is stewardship?

2/4/2027 - What is Subsistence?

What does it mean to live off the land? What does it mean to “only take what you need”? Learn about subsistence practices in Alaska.

2/11/2027 - Observance Wthout Disturbance

Part of protecting our oceans is exploring them with respect. Learn the basics of leaving no trace and treating animals in nature with respect.

2/18/2027 - Reduce, Reuse, Recycle!

Discover fun and simple ways to reduce waste and learn, on a basic level, how pollution can affect our oceans and the animals that call them home.

2/25/2027 - Graduation!

Journey through the center and reflect on everything we’ve learned in the past year!