Homeschool Days
On a weekday afternoon in Sarasota, the classroom may be the Gulf, a touch tank, or a question that begins with “What would happen if…?” At Mote Science Education Aquarium, Homeschool Days invite youn
By Edit Sarasota Staff
On a weekday afternoon in Sarasota, the classroom may be the Gulf, a touch tank, or a question that begins with “What would happen if…?” At Mote Science Education Aquarium, Homeschool Days invite young learners to approach marine science not as a collection of facts, but as an active investigation—one that rewards curiosity, careful observation, and a willingness to get one’s hands wet.
Designed for homeschool students ages 6 to 14, the program offers monthly classes organized for younger students, ages 6 to 9; older students, ages 10 to 14; and families seeking a class that can accommodate children across the full age range. During the fall semester, sessions will take place in the afternoons, creating a dedicated space for homeschool families to learn together while exploring the research and conservation work that has long made Mote a distinctive presence in Sarasota.
That connection between education and local science matters here. Sarasota is a coastal community whose daily life is shaped by estuaries, beaches, storms, fisheries, and the changing health of the Gulf. Mote’s researchers study those systems at close range, while its education programs translate complex questions about marine life and ocean health into experiences young people can understand. For homeschooled students, the setting offers something especially valuable: a chance to connect curriculum with the living environment just beyond the classroom walls, and to encounter the people and institutions working to understand it.
The program also reflects the expanding role of Mote SEA, Mote’s science education aquarium at University Town Center. Conceived as a place where public learning, marine research, and hands-on discovery meet, the facility gives families an approachable entry point into the region’s scientific life. Homeschool Days extend that invitation beyond a single visit, building a recurring rhythm of lessons and exploration throughout the semester.
The September session will take place Tuesday, September 15, 2026, at Mote Science Education Aquarium, 225 University Town Center Drive in Sarasota. With classes tailored to ages 6–9, 10–14, and mixed-age families, the afternoon program offers a thoughtful way to turn a homeschool day into an encounter with the Gulf’s larger story.