High Desert Fish 

Kindergarten - 5th Grade Lessons 

Water Critters

Students investigate a stream or pond using sampling techniques. Students will be able to recognize indicators of environmental quality in streams, ponds, and other aquatic habitats. 

Fish On!

Learn about different fish species, their specific adaptations, and habitat needs. 

K-2nd Grade Lessons

3rd - 5th Grade Lessons

Literacy Connections

K - 2 Literature

• "Swimmy" by Leo Lionni 

This story about Swimmy, a small fish, illustrates underwater diversity and adaptation, connecting to the "Fish On!" lesson by showing how fish and sea life interact and survive in their environment.

• "Over and Under the Pond" by Kate Messner  

This book explores the vibrant life above and below a pond, aligning with the "Water Critters" lesson by showcasing various aquatic organisms and their habitats.

• “Fish Eyes: A Book You Can Count On” by Lois Ehlert

Lois Ehlert’s book offers a colorful exploration of various fish, emphasizing their unique features and adaptations. This book connects to the Fish On! lesson by helping students learn about different types of fish and their characteristics.

• “Pond Circle” by Betsy Franco

This book provides a simple overview of the life cycle in a pond, featuring illustrations of different aquatic organisms and how they interact, which aligns with the lesson’s focus on identifying and understanding aquatic species. 

Art Projects 

Local Contacts 

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife 

Dave Banks 

• • • 541-573-6582

    • david.t.banks@odfw.oregon.gov 

    • https://www.fws.gov/ 

Burns Paiute Tribe Natural Resources Department 

Brandon Haslick 

• • • (541) 573-8084

    • brandon.haslick@burnspaiute-nsn.gov

    •  https://burnspaiute-nsn.gov/departments/natural-resources/ 

Additional Resources  

Dave Banks - 

 Dave can facilitate fish in the classroom to a limited number of teachers twice a year on a first-come-first-serve basis: Fall (September-October) and Winter (January-February).  There is also a  more fully developed curriculum for this that I can provide.

Dave usually has a limited number of dead fish that can be used for dissection.  The goal is to learn external and internal fish anatomy and function and how they are similar or different from human anatomy and function.  This is implemented in two visits.  The first visit is an interactive presentation and discussion of fish anatomy and function.  During the second visit, students get into groups of two or three and identify the external and internal anatomy previously discussed. 

All of Dave's resources are free and he handles all of the setup necessary. 

Career Spolitght

David Banks

District Fish Biologist

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife

Quote: “There are over 25,000 identified fish species in the world.”

Dave earned a bachelor's Degree in Fisheries and Wildlife at Oregon State University and a Master of Science in Zoology from the University of Wyoming. He worked seasonal fish monitoring jobs for federal and state agencies in Oregon, Washington, and Utah in his early career. He has lived in Burns since 2015.

Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife (ODFW) is responsible for the management of all fish and wildlife within Oregon that isn't listed as threatened or endangered under the Endangered Species Act.  ODFW has three Divisions; Fish, Wildlife, and Habitat which provide fish and wildlife management. They use small geographic areas to implement day-to-day management activities. Lately, ODFW has been monitoring native fish populations focusing on game fish like Redband Trout and non-game fish like Largescale Suckers, Speckled Dace, or Mottled Sculpin.

The fisheries biologist also helps landowners and irrigation districts with the need for fish in a body of water. They talk to anglers about fishing opportunities and assist in public education in their community. 

Brandon Haslick

Fish Program Manager

Burns Paiute Tribe

Quote: “There are so many different employment options available in the Natural Resource Field! You might find that you ultimately find yourself in a different career than you envisioned originally, but exploring those pathways is part of the excitement!”

Brandon has a Bachelor of Science in Natural Resource Management and has enjoyed working all over the country in fish and wildlife positions for the past 7 years. He feels that his focus and dedication to the field, and the connections he has made led him to this position. He loves the high desert of Harney County!

The Burns Paiute Tribe's Fish Program is focused on understanding and mitigating the threats to the native fish of the Malheur River watershed. Restoring fish populations to historic abundance and distribution while minimizing the impacts of invasive species are top priorities. This summer, Brandon and his team will continue to study invasive brook trout movement patterns and control their numbers. They will gather more baseline data for the High Lake Brook trout chemical removal set to take place in 2024. They will assist partner agencies with bull trout spawning surveys and restoration projects. They are also working to monitor the ceremonial Chinook salmon fishery to learn how to advance the success of that program. Their website: The Burns Paiute Tribe - Help Native Fish.