Trout in the Classroom
Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is a nation-wide educational program that allows students and teachers to experience the life-cycle of a trout. TIC is tied to the standards for 4th and 5th grades, although it currently takes place in classrooms ranging from 3rd grade to high school throughout Nevada. Trout in the Classroom is designed to teach students about the science, art, recreation and other values of fish and aquatic life through classroom observation and hands-on activities. [NDOW]
In cooperation with the Nevada Department of Wildlife, the River Wranglers, and others, we support local teachers participating in the Nevada TIC program to help them ensure their students have a great egg-to-release experience. Our service area includes all of Douglas County and portions of adjacent Nevada counties, as well as the eastern Alpine County in California. Educators in our service area who are interested in this program (or related activities) are encouraged to contact us at youth@hsfc.us to learn more about the program and our services.
Our Trout in the Classroom services are free!
We thank organizations, such as the Carson Valley Chukar Club and the Sagebrush Chapter of Trout Unlimited, and our private donors for providing funds to sustain and grow this program.
In Class Programs
We offer the following programs for free, including materials! Our current offerings are summarized below. We're happy to work with you to adjust these programs to meet your needs! We welcome your suggestions!
The Vivid Dancer Damselfly
In this lesson, students learn about the Vivid Dancer Damselfly, Nevada's state insect, including some interesting facts. Photographs and artificial flies are used to show students damselflies in each stage of their life cycle. This lesson is typically combined with a visual learning exercise: mock fly tying. Students will create their own damselfly imitations using craft materials. Time: ~ 50 minutes
Materials: Presentation slides (work in progress), video, craft materials (e.g., pipe cleaners).
The Lahontan Cutthroat Trout
This lesson is all about the Lahontan cutthroat trout (LCT), the Nevada state fish... and only trout native to the Carson Valley. Students learn:
interesting facts about the Lahontan cutthroat trout;
the natural history that allowed the Lahontan cutthroat Trout to evolve as a separate (sub)species of trout;
the importance of the Lahontan Cutthroat Trout to indigenous tribal people;
the impact American settlers have had upon Lahontan cutthroat trout populations over the last 150+ years; and
the ongoing habitat risks and how we might mitigate them.
This lesson is typically combined with a visual learning exercise. Students can be provided with an outline of a trout and asked to color in the distinctive markings of the Lahontan cutthroat trout. Art project adapted from Trout Markings. Time: ~ 50 minutes
Materials: Presentation slides, trout outline, coloring pencils.
Trout Food
In this lesson, students learn about the trout food chain. Each students is asked to name something trout eat or something that eats trout. Students learn that animal predation is an important part of nature. Students learn about how trout and the animals that they eat protect themselves from being preyed upon. Students will be introduced to the lifecycle of aquatic insects, a staple of the trout's diet, and learn about fishing with artificial flies. This lesson is typically paired with a "match the hatch" exercise where students, working in small groups, are asked to match artificial flies to photographs of natural trout food, including aquatic and terrestrial insects but also some of the more exotic items that trout eat. Time: ~ 50 minutes
Something else?
We are happy to work with you to adapt existing Trout in the Classroom lesson plans to meet your needs.
Resources
Trout in the Classroom website by Trout Unlimited
Nevada Trout in the Classroom website by Nevada Department of Wildlife
California Classroom Aquarium Education Program by California Department of Fish and Wildlife Trout
For more information about Trout in the Classroom and our youth programs, please contact Kurt Zeilenga, our youth programs coordinator, at youth@hsfc.us.