Education Resources

Fish Eggs to Fry

Overview

This project involves bringing salmon and trout eggs into the classroom to be raised by the students in an aquarium and then released.  It is a great way to expose school age children to the life cycle and habitat requirements of Oregon’s Salmon and Trout.

• Videos:
• Eggs to Fry Program Overview - A 2 minute introduction to the Fish Eggs to Fry Program.
• Classroom Egg Delivery – A 7 ½ minute video showing an example of a classroom delivery.  There are many ways to do the delivery.  The important thing is to get kids connected with the fish.
• Classroom Fry Release - A 4 minute video showing an example of a fry release day by a classroom.  There are many ways to do the release.  The important thing is to get kids connected with the fish and watershed.

Getting Started in the Classroom Egg Incubation Project Forms

• Contact your local STEP Biologist early on if you are interested in incorporating a fish egg to fry set up in your classroom. They can help you get started and identify your options. Egg delivery times and the number of aquariums available to borrow vary by location.
  
  
• When you are ready to request eggs, fill out the Egg Request form and send it to the local STEP Biologist as far in advance as possible ( 2-6 months is usually plenty). Last minute requests may be filled based on availability of eggs.
  
  
• While the eggs are in the classroom you will need to record important information on a daily basis. The Daily Progress form needs to be returned to the STEP Biologist within 15 days of release.
  
  
• The Report of Operations form which summarizes your project and release will need to be completed and returned to the local STEP Biologist within 15 days of release.

Fish Egg to Fry Resources

• Fish Eggs to Fry Manual (pdf)
• An Educator's Resource Guide for Hatching Salmon and Trout in the Classroom (pdf)
• Temperature Unit Calculator and release date estimator.  This excel spreadsheet is provided as a tool to help identify temperature settings, hatch dates, and release dates.

• Videos
  • Salmon Life Cycle - A 5 ½ minute video covering the entire salmon life cycle.
  • Classroom Aquarium Type 1: Standard Setup and Overview – This 4 minute video provides an overview of the components and set up of the most commonly used style of aquarium, chiller, and pump.
  • Classroom Aquarium Type 2: Common Portland Area Setup – A nearly 8 minute video that describes a common aquarium set up used by the Association of Northwest Steelheaders in the Portland area.  This video also provides some detailed information not included in the video for Classroom Aquarium Type 1.
  • Classroom Aquarium Type 3: Wine Chiller with a Small Tank – This 2 minute video describes a set up that is best suited to classrooms with limited counter space.
  • Aquarium Care and Maintenance – A 5 minute video that covers many of the tips and tricks for maintain a healthy environment in your classroom aquarium.

The Stream Scene

This 550-page book guides learning from the larger perspective of watershed systems -- their upland, riparian, and aquatic areas -- to the aquatic life they support. Each unit provides background information, vocabulary, a bibliography, extensions, learning activities (teacher and student versions) with education standards alignment, suggestions for younger students, and scientific inquiry adaptations.

Introduction (pdfs)

• Using this book
• Getting started
• Water Cycle
• Watersheds
• Uplands
• Riparian Areas
• Hydrology (Water Dynamics / Water Quantity / Streambed)
• Water Quality (Nutrients / Water Temperature / Dissolved Oxygen / pH / Sediments)
• Aquatic Organisms (Food Processing / Salmon Life Cycle / Fish Habitat Needs)
• Make-and-Take Field Equipment
• Salmon-Trout Enhancement Program
• Field Investigations
• Oregon's Education Standards
• Resources

Other Resources

• Native Fishes of the Rogue River poster (pdf)
  
  

Creeks and Kids Watershed Education Workshops: A team of experienced classroom teachers, aquatic education specialists, and biologists have partnered with STEP and R&E to provide a training designed for educators to acquire the knowledge, skills and confidence to use their local streams and watersheds as learning sites, another way to meet Oregon’s education standards. Field experiences and classroom activities from The Stream Scene: Watersheds, Wildlife, and People, Project WET, and Project Aquatic WILD are featured in the workshop. These, as well as many other innovative materials, are provided to each participant. The next Creeks and Kids workshop will be held near Seneca, OR from Monday, August 5th to Friday, August 9th, 2013. A nominal fee is charged ($55 for 2013). More information can be found on the Creeks and Kids website or by contacting Dr. Adele Schepige 503-838-8485 schepige@wou.edu.

This program receives federal financial assistance in Sport Fish Restoration and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against as described above in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire further information, please contact ADA Coordinator, Oregon Fish and Wildlife, 3406 Cherry Avenue NE, Salem, OR 97303, 503-947-6200, or write Office for Human Resources, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240. This material will be furnished in alternate format for people with disabilities if needed. Please call 503-947-6000 to request such materials.