Project

Foundations of Oyster Farming: An Immersive Game

An introduction to Maine aquaculture for upper elementary students.

Foundations of Oyster Farming immerses students in the world of the Maine Aquaculture industry. Designed for the upper elementary grades and beyond, our free, online game introduces students to fundamentals of oyster husbandry, farm management, and principles of environmental stewardship as they work to build and sustain their own virtual oyster farm.

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This game helps:

  • Broaden awareness of the Maine aquaculture industry as a viable blue economy career.
  • Build economic and data literacy among upper elementary students.
  • Provide educators with an empirically tested learning tool that strengthens STEM competencies and incorporates fundamentals of aquaculture into classroom learning.
  • Surface the relationships between the human and natural world and how they work together to build sustainable communities.
  • Foster an appreciation for sustainable seafood and working waterfronts.
  • Inspire the next generation of marine scientists and aquaculture professionals.

Foundations of Oyster Farming is a disciplinary learning game designed for the upper elementary grades and beyond built with funding from the National Science Foundation under grant #2048828. Our learning resources invite students to embody the role of a Maine oyster farmer as they navigate the challenges of starting and sustaining a profitable oyster farm. Students weigh monthly profitability ratios against decisions on farm location, production costs (gear, equipment, spat, staff), and multiple selling options to build understanding of real-world aquaculture practices and support disciplinary learning in economics and data science.

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Learn what it takes to be an oyster farmer!

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To complement classroom gameplay, weā€™ve developed a video series that explores key aspects of the oyster farming processā€”including surface grow systems, site selection, seasonal cage management, oyster seed purchasing, and strategies for managing biofouling. We've also created a student worksheet to help track progress and support follow-up activities.

Joanna Fogg, co-owner of Bar Harbor Oyster Company, shares her experience farming oysters in Bar Harbor, Maine.
This is a shot showing glassy black water with curving lines of black aquaculture gear.

Download the Game Worksheet

We've created a worksheet to accompany the student journey throughout the game. Use it to augment your learning experience!

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Disciplinary learning in economics and data science provide the foundation for gameplay decision-making by helping students weigh multiple selling options, balance production costs, and manage stochastic events in order to turn a profit.

The game is an engaging, educational online experience designed for elementary school students. As part of our initiative to enhance socioecological literacy, the game introduces players to the fundamentals of oyster aquaculture, environmental stewardship, and the challenges farmers face. Through interactive decision-making, students explore sustainable seafood production while learning about coastal ecosystems and business management.

In alignment with our strategic initiative to build Maineā€™s Blue Economy and support our Working Waterfronts, our learning resources broaden awareness of aquaculture as a viable career, connect students with working farmers, and highlight the economic and ecological importance of shellfish farming in strengthening coastal communities.

Project Sponsor

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This work was funded by the National Science Foundation under grant #2048828. Any opinions, findings, and conclusions or recommendations expressed in these materials are those of the authors and do not necessarily reflect the views of the National Science Foundation.

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