Teaching Suggestions
Teaching Suggestions
Following are activities that can help acquaint students with aquatic ecosystems, and how to select baits and lures based on what fish eat and how they feed.
Landing the Fish
Landing the Fish
Using poles rigged with casting plugs, practice correct procedures for setting the hook, retrieving the fish, and bringing it out of the water. (See Unit 5 Background Information.)
View resources from TakeMeFishing.com:
Option: Practice using student-led stations.
Video students demonstrating proper procedures. Use these videos at stations for students to practice landing skills.
Caring for the Catch
Caring for the Catch
Overview: Divide students into small groups to research proper “catch and release” fishing considerations, methods of preserving fish in the field, and fish cleaning techniques. (See Unit 5 Background Information.) Small groups can then present their findings on one or all of the topics to others. Presentations may be oral, written, audio-visual, posters, or use various other communications formats.
There are several online resources:
Option: Students could present their videos, posters, or other communications products to groups beyond the class, or invite guest speakers to discuss the topics (either in person or using technology such as videoconferencing).
Skills Test: Students will demonstrate proper procedures for landing and releasing fish. They will be prepared to discuss considerations for landing fish depending on size of the fish, gear being used, and whether the fish are being released.
Overview: Review these procedures by having students complete Review Sheet 5-1: Landing and Caring for the Catch. Be sure to emphasize proper safety precautions and angler courtesies.
Landing and Caring for the Catch: Plan a fishing field trip. See Tips for Conducting a Field Trip. Visit a local area so students can practice skills they have learned.
Keep enough fish for cooking and/or cleaning. (See handling and care instructions in Unit 5 Background Information.) Practice proper catch and release procedures for other fish.
Cleaning: Have a community member, staff, or parent demonstrate methods for cleaning fish.
Students can talk with their family and school/community members about assistance with cleaning and cooking fish; these individuals may also demonstrate a variety of methods for cleaning based on their experience/culture.
Break students into small groups and let them try their hand at cleaning fish using one of the methods demonstrated. Make sure that students wear fillet gloves, use a sharp knife, and observe all safety precautions. Following are some online resources on cleaning and preparing fish:
Skills Test: Students will demonstrate at least one procedure for cleaning fish – filleting, pan dressing, skinning or other method as shown by the instructor.
Cooking: Depending on the ages and abilities of students, either demonstrate a basic fish recipe or let them try one or more found online, or from another source. (Note: Students can experiment with recipes from different cultures.) If for some reason you are unable to go fishing, or keep the fish you catch, you can use frozen fish for cooking.
Teaching Resources
Teaching Resources
Landing the Fish
Landing the Fish
Extensions
Extensions
Health, Family and Consumer Sciences
Health, Family and Consumer Sciences
Team up with the Family and Consumer Sciences instructor – include a picnic as part of the field trip and have the family and consumer sciences class prepare the food; the Fish Iowa! students can teach the others how to fish.
Science
Science
Dissect fish caught by the students, using panfish and catfish if possible. Have students note adaptations of different species related to their feeding habits, etc. (Use the Fish Anatomy poster as a guide.)
Fish Iowa! (class) order form : Fish Iowa! trained educators - Submit to order materials for your Fish Iowa! unit.
Aquatic WILD guides are available via training. Check out the Iowa Project WILD training site for more information.
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