salmon in the classroom - An Integrated Unit
We are so lucky to be invited to watch the development of the salmon in the tank in Mrs. Lidke's Grade 1 classroom. Each week we will have a lesson about salmon and make observations and take notes. We will be creating an interactive notebook or lapbook . We will read and respond to a number of informational texts and fiction about salmon focusing on Salmon Myths orginating with First Nations groups on the West Coast and compare them with similar myths from other countries. Each student will write and illustrate their own Salmon myth. We will look at traditional First Nations salmon fishing methods and compare them with modern commercial fishing. We will investigate the pros and cons of current methods comparing sustainability and profitability and write a persuasive letter expressing personal opinions.
This is multi-grade unit will meet learning outcomes across Grades 4 - 7 including:
BC Grade 4 - 7 Language Arts
BC Grade 5 Social Studies
BC Grade 6 Science
This is multi-grade unit will meet learning outcomes across Grades 4 - 7 including:
BC Grade 4 - 7 Language Arts
- read and demonstrate comprehension of a range of literary texts, including stories from various Aboriginal and other cultures
- read and demonstrate comprehension of information texts, such as non-fiction books, materials that contain simple diagrams, charts and illustrations
- read and view to improve and extend thinking by developing explanations, distinguishing between fact and opinion, analyzing texts to consider alternative and compare various viewpoints
- use web sites designed for children
- write a variety of imaginative writing modeled from literature
- use the features and conventions of language to express meaning in their writing and
- select and use strategies after writing to improve their work
- compare the structures and behaviours of local animals and plants in different habitats and communities
- analyse simple food chains
- demonstrate awareness of the Aboriginal concept of respect for the environment
- determine how personal choices and actions have environmental consequences
- describe technologies used by Aboriginal people in BC
- describe Aboriginal peoples' relationship with the land and natural resources
- analyse how BC's living and non-living resources are used
- identify methods of extracting or harvesting and processing BC's resources
- analyse how the Aboriginal concept of interconnectedness of the environment is reflect in responsibility for and caretaking of resources
- describe potential environmental impacts of using BC's living and non-living resources
BC Grade 5 Social Studies
- describe the location of natural resources within BC and Canada including fish and marine resources
- explain why sustainability is important
- analyse environmental effects of settlement in early BC and Canada
BC Grade 6 Science
- analyse how different organisms adapt to their environment
- evaluate effects of technology on lifestyles and environments
- assess the relationship between cultures and their environments
- analyse the roles of organisms as part of interconnected food webs, populations, communities and ecosystems
- assess survival needs and interactions between organisms and the environment
- assess the requirements for sustaining healthy local ecosystems
- evaluate human impacts on local ecosystems
WEEK 1 (INTRODUCTION) - Students will watch the Salmon Life Cycle Song and the two Life Cycle of Salmon videos. They will complete a KWL chart from their Salmon Journey notebook and visit Mrs. Lidke's classroom to observe and make sketches of the aquarium and salmon eggs.
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WEEK 2 - Students will learn about Non-Fiction Text Features through a Smartboard matching game. When finished each student will choose an informational text on Salmon and identify the various parts such as headings, titles and captions. When ready they will complete an online form Non-Fiction Text Features or Non-Fiction Text Features Jr. to demonstrate their understanding. We will finish by watch Wild Salmon of the Pacific and Salmon Eggs Hatching before visiting the aquarium to see how the salmon eggs are progressing. Question - How long do salmon eggs take to hatch?
1. Non-Fiction Text Features Jr.
2. Non-Fiction Text Features
1. Non-Fiction Text Features Jr.
2. Non-Fiction Text Features
WEEK 3 - We will begin our lapbooks this week after reviewing the salmon cycle. Students will identify different types of salmon, their habitat and other important facts using their informational books and the Internet.
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WEEK 4 - PRESENT DAY SALMON FISHING - There is a range of methods for harvesting salmon today, from single fishermen to commercial trawlers catching thousands of fish at a time. 2013 was a record year for pink salmon. This brought praise for the conservation work that is being done. However, other salmon breeds are still being depleted. Students will watch the videos and have a visit from our aboriginal support worker who will talk about First Nations fishing and teach students how to draw a salmon in the aboriginal style. Students will write a First Nations legend.
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WEEK 5 - THREATS TO SUSTAINABILITY - What is sustainability? We will look at a village in southern Alaska which practices sustainable fishing, commercial fish farming and environmental threats such as sea lice, logging, mining, ocean tankers, damming rivers and urban development. Students will fill out a worksheet showing sustainable practices and threats to the salmon.
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Resources
Student Links - a number of good resources for students
BC Curriculum Links - this webpage has a great selection of web links including Smartboard and Clicker
Trees to Seas: Journey of the wild salmon" board game - this is a downloadable, printable game complete with game pieces.
RAZ-Kids.com: Leap! A Salmon's Story - This story tells about the salmon life cycle through the eyes of a single salmon. You need a RAZ-kids account to log in.
The Journey of the Wild Salmon - a written story with links
Salmon Life Cycles - a commercial fish website with good illustrations
SalmonWILD - an online resource for anyone interested in learning about the intriguing world of salmon.
Salmon Lapbook - a great resource
The Salmon Challenge - an interactive game of survival for a salmon fry, based on human choices that may help or hurt (this is an old game and may not work on all computers)
A Salmon Tale - a colouring book which shows the life cycle of the salmon.
The Pacific Salmon and Steelhead Coloring Book - another colouring book which also provides a lot of written information.
Student Links - a number of good resources for students
BC Curriculum Links - this webpage has a great selection of web links including Smartboard and Clicker
Trees to Seas: Journey of the wild salmon" board game - this is a downloadable, printable game complete with game pieces.
RAZ-Kids.com: Leap! A Salmon's Story - This story tells about the salmon life cycle through the eyes of a single salmon. You need a RAZ-kids account to log in.
The Journey of the Wild Salmon - a written story with links
Salmon Life Cycles - a commercial fish website with good illustrations
SalmonWILD - an online resource for anyone interested in learning about the intriguing world of salmon.
Salmon Lapbook - a great resource
The Salmon Challenge - an interactive game of survival for a salmon fry, based on human choices that may help or hurt (this is an old game and may not work on all computers)
A Salmon Tale - a colouring book which shows the life cycle of the salmon.
The Pacific Salmon and Steelhead Coloring Book - another colouring book which also provides a lot of written information.