Grade 4 Trout Release Trip

Last week, our fourth graders visited Historic Jerusalem Mill in Harford County to release the rainbow trout that we raised in the library this year.  Our eggs arrived in January, and students have observed our trout hatch and grow each week.  Students in the Environmental Club were our “trout patrol” checking water quality and caring for our trout each morning.  We are proud to announce that we released 159 trout fingerlings – this is a very successful release, as we receive 163 eggs in January.  You can learn more about the Trout in the Classroom here.

 

During the full-day field experience, students visited five different learning stations.

1. Hike to Bridge -Students hiked through the woods to Jericho Bridge, one of the few remaining covered bridges in Maryland.  On the hike, students observed the landscape and identified examples of environmental changes that were caused by humans and changes that were caused by nature.
2. Predator & Prey Game – Students played a tag game to simulate the interactions in a trout’s food web and the challenges that trout face while trying to survive.
3. Water Quality and Habitat Study – Students examined the Little Gunpowder River to identify the characteristics that make this site a healthy habitat for rainbow trout.  Students also conducted water quality tests to assess the ammonia levels, pH, and temperature of the water so that we could compare the data to the data we have been gathering daily for our trout tank.
4. Writing in Nature – Students used their senses to observe the trout’s new environment, then wrote or drew to reflect on what they observed.  Students created a variety of poems, journals, and drawings.
5. Stream Quality and Macroinvertebrate Study – Students found and identified different macroinvertebrates (like stoneflies, caddisflies, and water pennies) that show how healthy a water habitat is. At this station, students also released our trout.

THANK YOU to many people who made this day such a positive experience for our students:

• first, to our students themselves – although it was rainy and cold, they all kept a positive outlook and filled the day with fun and learning
• to our chaperones who braved the weather, assisted our students at each station, and took lots of photos
• to Ms. Kellner, Mr. Paul, Mrs. Solter, and Mrs. Zagurski for leading our learning stations – a special thank you to Mr. Paul and Mrs. Solter for transporting our trout from Lutherville to Jerusalem Mill

 

Take a peek at our day through these slideshows…
Grade 4 Trout Release Trip, 2016 – Hike to the Covered Bridge on PhotoPeach

Grade 4 Trout Release Trip, 2016 – Predator & Prey Game on PhotoPeach

Grade 4 Trout Release Trip, 2016 – Water Quality and Habitat Study on PhotoPeach

Grade 4 Trout Release Trip, 2016 – Writing in Nature on PhotoPeach

Grade 4 Trout Release Trip, 2016 – Stream Quality and Macroinvertebrate Study on PhotoPeach

 

Students, please comment and tell us what you liked best about the day.  If you have any suggestions for the teachers or for future students, share those ideas as well.