Susan Foshay’s fifth-grade class from Prestwood School recently released steelhead trout into a river in Annadel State Park in Santa Rosa. The class raised the fish from eggs, releasing them once they’d grown to the fry stage.
In Susan Foshay’s fifth-grade class, raising trout is part of a long-standing partnership with Sonoma Ecology Center’s environmental education program for fifth graders.
“Former students come back to visit and always and ask if we’re still raising fish – it makes that much of an impression,” said Foshay. “This is a fantastic science project on so many levels.”
As part of the steelhead-in-the-classroom unit, students monitor the trout’s growth from egg, to alevin, to fry. They keep scientific journals and do math and art as integral parts of the project. When students release the fish into approved cold-water streams, they have observed over many weeks the life cycle of these sea-going trout.
“Raising steelhead in the classroom helps kids get to know their watershed and encourages environmental stewardship,” said Foshay. “But probably most importantly, it’s fun.”
