MEERESMUSEUM Stralsund

In the Evolution gallery, try the station that reveals an ichthyosaur’s anatomy, then compare the whale skeleton with the shapes of the other marine mammals nearby. The giant megalodon jaw makes an enjoyable family photograph and a starting point for talking about extinct animals. Follow the “Schlau mit Marli” signs with younger children and ask about the free discovery quizzes; the turtle mascot gives them things to search for between the larger exhibits.

Rest beneath the digital globe. Its projections explore geology, climate and people’s relationship with the oceans, with sound available in English as well as German. Pick one subject to follow together: an underwater volcano, a current or the routes people use across the sea. In the fishing display, compare the net models and think about what a fishing method might catch besides its intended fish.

At the Caribbean Reef, use more than one viewing level and notice how the fish occupy different parts of the water. The coral forms in this tank are artificial reproductions. Later, look for the living corals, including colonies grown by the museum, and the display of coral fluorescence under ultraviolet light. It is a particularly good place to challenge the idea that a coral must be a plant.

The Pacific section includes a cooler-water stop off California, with horn sharks, kelp bass and anemones. Compare that scene with the dark volcanic setting of Hawaii and the pale sand of the Fiji tank. At Fiji, scan low down for blue-spotted rays before following the fish above them. Save an unhurried final stop for the green sea turtles Frieda and Käthe in the Maldives tank. Watch how they steer and turn, then find their individual stories beside the aquarium.