Parents and teachers can join forces in the pursuit of learning through a "fin"tastic program. When parents are aware of what their children are learning at school, it makes it easier for them to get involved in the education process.

Research shows that teachers and parents have a common need for joining together in partnership: the need to foster positive growth in children and in themselves.

With the help of a fun, educational program, parents can see how easy it is to bring their child's classroom activities home. A program called Aquademics has everyone "diving" in and getting excited to learn. The award-winning Aqua

demics program, created by Tetra, is a hands-on, minds-on enrichment opportunity that brings learning to life for children, whether they're gathered around the aquarium in the classroom or at home with family.

Designed to complement the level of instruction taught in fourth and fifth-grade classrooms, the program includes more than 40 lesson plans with related resources.

Lesson plans are based on the aquarium and cover such topics as science, math, creative writing, geography, social studies and more. With the program, students are responsible for creating and maintaining an aquarium as well as experiencing activities designed to inspire a love of learning.

Additionally, students feel a sense of ownership in the aquarium they've created, and character traits such as responsibility and citizenship are reinforced.

Aquademics also offers a number of other resources that make learning both challenging and fun. Virtually every lesson plan is accompanied by a worksheet and/or a fun activity. Teach a drama class? Have your students write and perform a skit with a fish theme. Struggling to get kids excited about math? The program's worksheets combine school lessons and the fun of the aquatic world. This program also offers interactive games and a section dedicated to the history and anatomy of fish, both of which are great complements to any learning experience.

Teachers are excited that Aquademics can help meet state learning standards in most school subjects. Parents can reinforce what their children are learning in school by following along at home. The lesson plans are downloadable from any location and suitable for any situation.

Aquademics is even easier with TetraCare. This free aquarium program offers constant support through the first six months of aquarium ownership, with an ongoing series of fish care e-minders. Users also have access to online and tollfree telephone assistance, as well as FAQs and tutorials on setting up and maintaining an aquarium.

Aquademics and TetraCare are available at Tetra's website, www.tetra-fish.com. These programs are free to all interested teachers, home-schoolers and parents.

This story provided by North American Precis Syndicate, Inc.