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Reliant donates to Texas State Aquarium program for Harvey impacted school districts

Posted at 4:05 PM, Feb 12, 2019
and last updated 2019-02-12 23:15:20-05

Reliant Energy is partnering with the Texas State Aquarium (TSA) to give hundreds of students in districts impacted by Hurricane Harvey an educational experience through a STEM-based program.

More than 650 fifth graders whose school districts were impacted by Hurricane Harvey will be able to visit the aquarium as well as participate in distance learning activities.  The Texas-based electricity company has donated more than $17,000  in support of the program.  The school districts include Aransas County ISD, Aransas Pass ISD, Ingleside ISD, Port Aransas ISD, Refugio ISD, Woodsboro ISD, and Austwell-Tivoli ISD.

The students’ experience will kick off with “Marine Adventures,” an on-site interactive learning activity with Gulf of Mexico animals and habitats. Students will work independently and in teams to investigate animal adaptations, observe, describe, sketch, collect data and discuss their findings.

To reinforce and review their Aquarium field trip experiences prior to STAAR testing, TSA will connect directly with each 5th-grade classroom through Aquavision Distance Learning. This highly-interactive “virtual field trip” will feature a guided 45-minute exploration of TSA habitats and animals and is designed to build observation, inquiry and communication skills.