Fish in the Classroom: 4th Graders Raise Brook Trout at William D’Abate Elementary
December is a BIG and fishy month at William D’Abate Elementary—their 4th graders officially got their hands on nearly 50 brook trout eggs as part of our Fish in the Classroom program! 🐟
Thanks to the shiny new 20-gallon tank we installed, the students now have a cozy little home for their tiny fish. But raising brook trout isn’t just about keeping them wet—these little fish need conditions that mimic their natural environment (temperature, water quality, and flow) to grow healthy and strong. That’s why our program focuses on teaching students not just how to feed and care for the trout, but how to think like a fish biologist. Check out Figure 2 to see how we emulate their streamside habitat.
Over the next several months, the students will watch their trout grow, learn about the life cycle of brook trout (see Figure 1!), and track how they go from eggs to fry, then fingerlings. In about five months, these fingerlings will be ready for the big adventure: a field trip where students release them into the wild. From there, the fish will continue their life journey, maturing through their final stages and contributing to healthy local ecosystems.
It’s hands-on science, environmental stewardship, and a little bit of magic all rolled into one classroom. Who knew learning could be this fishy and fun?