Mr. Wade Richardson, a 6th grade science teacher, is hosting the Estill County Middle School Trout-in-the-Classroom project.  His students got to experience the "death" of the trout eggs.  The eggs were replaced with more eggs and alevins from the fish hatchery.  The demise of the fish eggs gave the students are opportunity to brain storm scientific and pragmatic reasons why the eggs died and to realize the fragile nature of living things in an ecosystem.

In addition to daily water quality testing and maintenance of the tank and the quality of the tank water, the students have participated in other activities.  They used the Trout Life Cycle diagram (found in the teacher's

materials) to create a play.  The presentation included props such a large pink ball (with an eye drawn on it) to represent an egg, a medium sized rubber fish to demonstrate a fingerling, and a large trout pillow to show a mature fish.  Each student spoke about a stage of the life cycle while moving in a circle about the room.  Four new vocabulary words were introduced to the audience.  Then "fish" candy and crackers were awarded to those who were able to define the new words after seeing the play.

Mr. Richardson with student scientists and Mentor, Sarah Hart

Allen sorting eggs

Sarah and Summer testing for water quality

Art work for the tank background

Jordyn installing tank bankground

Poster acknowledging local sponsors