Student Activities
- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Science
Students will be introduced to the wild salmonid species of the Elwha River. After watching a power point presentation on the anadromous life styles of pacific salmonids, students will work in groups to research. Then students will compose a presentation on the lifestyle of a specific species of anadromous fish found in the Elwha River: Chinook, chum, coho, pink, sockeye, steelhead, bull trout, or Dolly Varden. Student groups will then apply their knowledge by constructing a model healthy river habitat in which their species, along with other species of salmon, can grow and thrive.
- Alevin (al-uh-vuhn)A newly hatched fish in the larval stage, which remain in the redd area and feed off their yolk sac.
- Anadromous- ([uh-nad-ruh-muh s)A fish that is born in freshwater, migrates to the ocean to spend its adult life, and returns to freshwater to spawn.
- Fry- A juvenile fish that has absorbed its yolk sac and begins to hunt or feed on its own.
- Oncorhynchus (on-kor-IN-cus) – Latin name for the genus that includes salmonids
- Redd- A depression in sand or gravel where salmon deposit their eggs and then partially bury them.
- Salmonids (sal-MON-ids) – salmon and the other species related to them, such as trout and whitefish.
- Smolt- A juvenile fish (for salmon, the stage where they enter salt water).
- Spawn - The process by which an organism produces others of its kind.
Additional Resources
For struggling learners:
Salmon coloring book visually and simply explains salmon life cycles.
http://www.fws.gov/pacific/publications/salmnbk.pdf
The Lesson plan in the link below contains a "Something Fishy: Life Cycle of a Salmon Game"
http://www.eduref.org/cgi-bin/printlessons.cgi/Virtual/Lessons/Science/Animals/ANM0204.html
Enrichment:
Explore the shellfish associated with the Elwha River:
http://www.nwifc.org/2008/10/collaborative-efforts-for-elwha-river-freshwater-mussel-rescue/
http://adventure.howstuffworks.com/outdoor-activities/fishing/freshwater-tips/salmon/salmon-spawn.htm
Just for fun:
Salmon dissection game http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00548/Dissection.html
Coloring. Mazes, dot-to-dot fin stuff:
http://www.critfc.org/for-kids-home/for-kids/
Many salmon games:
http://library.thinkquest.org/05aug/00548/GoodStream.html
Materials
Last updated: September 16, 2015