Press Release
Fla. Museum 'Mega-Shark' home school class for ages 7-11 begins Oct. 15
For Immediate Release Oct. 5, 2007
Contact:
Paul Ramey, APR
Assistant Director, Marketing and Public Relations
Florida Museum of Natural History
(352) 846-2000, ext. 218, pramey@flmnh.ufl.edu
Writer: Christine Eschenfelder
GAINESVILLE, Fla. --- The Florida Museum of Natural History is offering a home school class "Mega-Shark" for ages 7-11 starting Oct. 15. Participants will investigate interdisciplinary principles of paleontology, marine biology and ichthyology in a search for the largest shark that ever lived, the 60-foot-long Megalodon.
Pre-registration for the four-day home school session is required. The cost is $72 for Florida Museum members and $86 for non-members. Classes run from 10 a.m. - 12 p.m. Oct. 15, 22, 29 and Nov. 5. For more information call (352) 846-2000, ext. 248.
This class complements the Florida Museum's temporary exhibit "Megalodon: Largest Shark that Ever Lived," on display now through Jan. 6, 2008. Visitors enter the exhibit through the jaws of a full-size 60-foot-long Megalodon sculpture and learn about this shark's life history and the world it inhabited. The exhibit explores the evolution, biology and misconceptions about giant prehistoric sharks. Related to modern great white and mako sharks, Megalodon lived worldwide before vanishing 2 million years ago. The exhibition showcases both fossil and modern shark specimens as well as full-scale models.
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The Florida Museum of Natural History is Florida's state natural history museum, dedicated to understanding, preserving and interpreting biological diversity and cultural heritage. It is located near the intersection of Southwest 34th Street and Hull Road in the University of Florida Cultural Plaza in Gainesville. Hours are 10 a.m. to 5 p.m. Monday-Saturday and 1 to 5 p.m. Sunday. Butterfly Rainforest admission is $8.50 for adults ($7.50 Fla. residents) and $4.50 for children ages 3-12. Prices subject to change. For more information, including directions and parking, call (352) 846-2000, or visit www.flmnh.ufl.edu.