The Shedd Aquarium in Chicago underwent a major renovation of its Oceanarium section. The renovations updated the animal life support systems, enhanced existing exhibits, and added new experiences like a beluga encounter pool. The renovations improved the habitats for animals like beluga whales, sea lions, fish, and rescued otters. The goal was to improve the experiences of both visitors and animals at one of the most visited marine mammal facilities in the world.

1. Student’s Sheet
OCEANARIUM REIMAGINED
SHEDD AQUARIUM
(Reopened on May 22, 2009.)
INTRODUCTION
Aerial view of Chicago's Museum Campus
In Chicago, there is the Chicago’s Museum Campus. It’s composed of
the Shedd Aquarium, Field Museum, Adler Planetarium and Soldier
Field, all tied together by green space.
You’re going to watch a video on the Shedd Aquarium. It’s one of the
premier aquariums in the USA and home to an impressive collection of
underwater life.

2. PRE – VIEWING
What sea animals are these? Match the names to the pictures below:
(1) bottlenose dolphin (5) beluga cab (9) sea turtle
(2) penguin chick (6) fishes (10) sea horse
(3) sea otter (7) manatee (11) lobster
(4) star fish (8) jelly fish (12) sea lion
( ) ____________ ( ) _____________ ( ) ________________
( ) ________________ ( ) ________________ ( ) ________________
( )________________ ( ) __________________ ( ) __________________
( ) ___________________ ( )_______________ ( )_________________
WHILE VIEWING

3. FIRST VIEWING
Watch the video “OCEANARIUM REIMAGINED” and select above
the sea animals that are mentioned.
SECOND VIEWING
Watch the video again and decide if the following statements are
true (T) or false (F):
1. ( ) The Shedd Aquarium was reimagined in 1991.
2. ( ) The Shedd Aquarium is the most visited aquarium in the world.
3. ( ) The Shedd Aquarium was reimagined to improve both the
animals’ habitats and the facilities for the guests.
4. ( ) In the Shedd Aquarium, one can go into the water and relate to
the belugas.
5. ( ) The beluga whales are the only performers in the amphitheater
6. ( ) Now the otters have a new home along the rocky shores.
THIRD VIEWING
Watch the video once more, underline the regular verbs in the video
script below and decide if the “-ed” ending of these verbs are
pronounced / / /, / / or / / /. Could you find all the three types? Note
that some words ending in “–ed” are not verbs; they are adjectives: e.g.
– improved lighting.
VIDEO SCRIPT:
OCEANARIUM REIMAGINED

4. SHEDD AQUARIUM – CHICAGO
Hi, I’m Ken Ramires. I’m the Senior Vice-President of animal collections
and animal training here at Shedd. I’d like to introduce you to Shedd
Aquarium’s Reimagined Oceanarium. You know, when the Oceanarium
opened in 1991, it quickly became a must-see in Chicago. Today it’s one
of the most visited marine mammal pavilions in the world and a premier
conservation of education facility. Over the years we’ve seen beluga
cabs born, penguin chicks hatch and rescued sea otters thrive. A whole
generation of Chicago children has enjoyed the wonders of the
Oceanarium. Now after 17 years, the time has come for a major
renovation. We’ve recoated the pools, done necessary maintenance
work, and updated the animal life-support operations. We also made
major enhancements to existing exhibits and added some new
experiences to ensure that your journey through the Oceanarium is more
amazing than ever. The Oceanarium was also home to our beloved
beluga whales. Now joining them are loud and boisterous California sea
lions, with a renovated habitat and a larger viewing area for our guests.
Also new is the ITW Foundation Beluga Trail, a rushing river leading to a
pristine estuary featuring new salt and fresh water fishes. One of our
newest habitats is the grandeur beluga encounter pool, which will enable
small groups of guests guided by trainers to wade into the water and
make important and life-changing connections with these gentle giants.
At the Center of the Oceanarium is the amphitheater overlooking whale
harbor. Over the years, our marine mammal presentations have
showcased the awesome natural behaviors and learned skills of these
animals and their trainers. It’s been pure magic. But now, with major
enhancements to the Oceanarium’s amphitheater, things are going to
get a lot more magical. A favorite of many visitors, the playful otters,
some rescued twenty years ago after the Exxon Valley’s oil spill, will

5. soon return to their renovated home. The Reganstein Otter Trail Habitat:
with improved lighting as well as greater accessibility to viewing windows
for all guests, the otters are sure to enjoy their new and improved home
adjacent to the tide pool along the rocky shores of the Pacific Northwest.
We’re excited by these great changes at Shedd and hope that you are
too. Please consider supporting the Oceanarium renovation and “making
waves” campaign. Be an Oceanarium showstopper with a gift of five
thousand dollars or more and you can name your own seat in the
amphitheater.