Educating students about conservation with a multi-disciplinary service project

Rate this practice

Average

Your rating: None

Abstract

The Salmon and Trout Education Program (STEP) is a hands-on curriculum that uses a thematic approach to the preservation of salmon and steelhead trout. The program was originally developed for use in the elementary science and social studies content areas; however the activities can easily be adapted to intermediate and secondary high school levels. The STEP program is multi-disciplinary with curriculum links to language arts, geography, reading, and art. A similar program is sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Game. Educational consultant Michael Stark submitted this effective practice in August 2003 as part of a project for CalServe.

Issue

Increasing student awareness of the inter-relationships affecting local watersheds through the study of salmon and steelhead trout biology.

Action

After attending a training session sponsored by the California Department of Fish and Game, a Burroughs High School biology teacher was permitted to receive trout eggs from the Mojave Fish Hatchery.
In the biology class, the fish eggs were kept in a specially cooled tank at 58 degrees Fahrenheit.
While observing the development of the trout eggs, students studied the life cycle and habitat of the trout.
After six weeks, the eggs had hatched and were ready for the students to release the fry into Piru Creek.
Students also participated in a creek clean up.
The final culminating activity had the students creating a brochure on their experiences. The brochures were distributed to the facilitator of the project, the TreePeople, to be shared with other schools.

Context

Instructors and their students set up an aquarium in the classroom, receive fish eggs under a special Department of Fish and Game permit, and observe the fish as they hatch and develop. The class may also participate in a field trip to a local stream or river where the fish are released. Completion of a teacher training workshop is required to receive the eggs. Workshops are offered at least once a year in each region.

The Classroom Aquarium Education Project is offered statewide in partnership with regionally-based community organizations. This program has also been known as Salmonids in the Classroom, Trout in the Classroom, Steelhead in the Classroom, and Salmon and Trout Education Program (STEP). The project at John Burroughs High School was facilitated by The Tree People; a non-profit organization dedicated to raising environmental awareness in the Los Angeles area.

Outcome

The students who participated:

Learned about the life cycle and habitat of the trout
Contributed to a creek clean-up
Created a brochure documenting their experiences

Posted On

December 20, 2005

For More Information

Julie Knoop

John Burroughs High School

Anatomy, Biology & Physiology Teacher

1920 Clark Ave.

Burbank, CA 91506

Phone: (818) 558-4777

Website: http://teachers.yourhomework.com/eurioste/index.html

Email: julieknoop@burbankusd.org

Claudene Bell

Burbank USD Environmental Ambassador Pilot Program

Service-learning Coordinator

Phone: (818) 558-4687

Website: http://www.ciwmb.ca.gov/Schools/Ambassador/Burbank/

Email: cbell@admin.burbank.k12.ca.us

Resources

Through the CalServe Initiative, the California Department of Education has been supporting a Statewide Regional Service-Learning Network and district wide school-community partnerships that annually involve over 120,000 students and approximately 15,000 community volunteers in urban, rural and suburban communities throughout the state. It is the California Department of Education's vision that by the year 2004, 50 percent of all districts will include service-learning as part of their regular instructional practice, engaging students in at least one service-learning experience at each grade span (K-5, 6-8, and 9-12).

See:
Standards and Indicators for Effective Service-Learning Practice, National Service-Learning Clearinghouse K-12 Fact Sheet.