Protect: Water
Trout in the Classroom
PROTECT Water: Trout in the Classroom
What will students learn?
Students will learn about fish as a part of the animal kingdom. As they study various animals, trout will be our exemplar animal within the classroom. Students will learn about proper water chemistry and the balance of ammonia, pH, and other chemicals necessary in the tank to sustain the life of our trout. They will also learn about the life cycle of a trout as the fish hatch from eggs and grow to fish.
SC State Science Standards:
6.L.4A.1 Obtain and communicate information to support claims that living organisms (1) obtain and use resources for energy, (2) respond to stimuli, (3) reproduce, and (4) grow and develop.
6.L.4A.2 Develop and use models to classify organisms based on the current hierarchical taxonomic structure (including the kingdoms of protists, plants, fungi, and animals).
6.L.4B.5 Analyze and interpret data to compare how endothermic and ectothermic animals respond to changes in environmental temperature.
IMG_9288.MOVWhat will students do?
Students will care for trout daily. Students will also keep a log recording data including pH, ammonia, and temperature. Finally, students will release the trout into the Saluda River at the end of the year. Students will be tested given a pre and post trout test. Questions included in the test relate directly to the science standards as well as to the governing agencies (DNR & Trout Unlimited) that provide this program for schools. Click the video to the left to watch G'Kiya release one of our classroom trout!
How will students teach others?
Each day, students will teach other students about trout management as they cycle through trout tank responsibilities. Students will also talk to adult visitors about the tank and provide detailed information such as water quality results and morbidity rates. Here, Jimmy Sullivan helps Larry Miao measure the pH of our tank.
