Fishing for Better Test Scores on the New York State Tests

Helping your child get higher test scores in science can be as easy as a day of fishing. Fishing is hands-on way for children to connect to important science concepts, in addition to being a great activity that can keep kids learning for a lifetime. This article will show any parent how to turn his next fishing trip into a science-filled learning experience.

Why fishing? If your child is in an elementary school in New York State, the majority of the fourth grade science test and the elementary science curriculum will be based on ecology, or the study of the natural world. As a fourth grade teacher and avid angler, each year I use fishing to hook students on science. Students in my classroom raise trout from eggs and release them into the wild. Along the way, they learn about insects, identification, pollution, food webs, conservation and life cycles, just to name a few concepts.

To learn the most from a day of fishing, plan ahead. Your trip should be a blend of education and fun. To make the trip a learning experience, try to think of it as a four part lesson: pre-fishing, fishing, alternatives to fishing and post-fishing. The latest brain research shows that a great deal of learning occurs while children are sleeping, so planning ahead a few days can give your child a chance to absorb new science concepts. Don't force learning but use science vocabulary when the opportunity arises. If possible, try to use the terms and questions in this article; your child will see related questions on the New York State science test in fourth grade.

Questions to Ask Before Fishing:

What do fish need to live?

What are the basic needs of all living things?

Is a fish an herbivore, a carnivore or an omnivore?

If a fish eats an insect, which one is the predator and which one is the prey?

What does the insect eat?

Why is a worm called a decomposer? Why are decomposers important?

A great day of fishing with children starts before you get to the water. Get your child thinking about how he wants to try to catch fish. Does your child want to fish with worms or with lures? Both methods can help children learn about food chains, predators, prey and the energy cycle?

Grab a flashlight and go worm hunting. On rainy nights lush lawns will be filled with night crawlers. Point a flashlight down at the grass but look to the dim areas of light. When a crawler is spotted, try to catch it. If you are too slow or create vibrations, worms will shoot back into the ground. Make it a contest. Map out where you caught the most worms. Discuss decomposers and the importance of worms in nature.

You can also find worms on wet asphalt after a rainy night. Tennis courts are safe from traffic and are usually crawling with worms. Get up early while it is still cool and wet.

If kids like hunting for worms they may like the idea of a worm stand. With adult supervision, kids can package worms into cups, decorate them and sell worms to local fishermen or gardeners.

An easy craft for kids who love to catch fish is to create their own fishing lure. It is simple to create a FREE lure that any kid can create with a little adult help. Come back to this site for simple lures you can make with your child.

Fishing:

Where should you cast? Why?

Where do fish live?

What is a food chain? How can you use it to catch fish?

What is an ecosystem?

What is a habitat?

Before fishing, try to observe the water. Are fish coming to the surface of the water? Do you see any insects? Try to get your child to be a detective. Ask him to search for clues. Where do the fish live? Discuss the idea of habitat and the needs of living things. The best spots to fish are usually the hardest places to fish. In lakes or ponds, downed trees, stumps, docks and weeds are great fish habitat; they provide protection from predators, and they attract small baitfish. In streams and rivers, look for protection against the current; fish will hold behind rocks.

While fishing, let your child pick the spot to fish. Try to let your child test out his ideas to see how they work. If he is not catching fish, ask him why he's not getting any bites? What else could he try? Is there a better spot to fish? Why?

Point out things like weather patterns and animals. Use the experience as a means to gather questions that can be researched later or tested out; this can introduce the scientific method. If students can make a connection between their lives and science understanding will follow.

If you catch fish, be ready with a tape measure and a camera. Have the child measure the fish and be sure to get a picture. The picture can be used for school science projects or show and tell. This can help feed a child's interest in writing. Try to take a few photos of the fish that can be used by children later to help identify it.

Alternative Activities

If the fishing is slow or your child's attention span is waning, you can get more learning out of the day by changing activities. Children learn best when they are motivated. If your child is enjoying the fishing, great, keep fishing. But if you notice that the interest level is waning, here are some activities to have as a backup.

Insect Watching

What is an insect?

What is metamorphosis?

Why is a dragonfly a consumer?

Insects are a topic in elementary school science, and a great deal science can be learned by watching them. One insect that is easy for children to observe is the dragonfly.

When the sun is out, these colorful insects can put on an aerial show. Male dragonflies patrol a territory of about thirty square feet, and they will fight off invaders in show stopping battles.

Dragonflies don't sting. They are known as the mosquito hawk and consume hundred of these pests each day. A dragonfly is a predator and a consumer. If you are in a boat and sitting still, it is possible to have dragonflies land on your arm or shoulder.

Use science terms like observations, identify, and classification? There is a subtle difference between dragonflies and damselflies. Dragonflies have wings that are always like an airplane. Damselflies have wings that rest parallel with their bodies.

Observing Animals

What is an ecosystem?

What are some nonliving things in your environment?

While fishing, take frequent breaks to observe and watch other wildlife. Turtles, beavers, deer, and squirrels fascinate young minds. Just listen to your child, and he will lead the discussion.

Be an Herbivore

What is an herbivore?

Why is a plant a producer?

What is photosynthesis?

Foraging for food can be an activity in itself. Try picking berries or looking for nuts to eat. Dandelions, cattails and day lilies are all edible and found around many fishing spots.

Building a Fish Habitat or Fish Watching

If it is a hot day, try observing fish underwater. Bring a mask and a snorkel and go swimming. Most fish will let you get surprisingly close to them if you are swimming underwater. Fish can be followed and observed.

Try building a fish habitat. Help your child gather rocks and build a shelter for fish. A simple habitat can be made from pile of rocks that form a small cave. In a week or two, fish will occupy the shelter. This is also a way to know where to fish on your next trip.

While you are underwater, try this experiment. Bring down some lures and test what they look like underwater. This could lead to a science fair project later in the year. What color is most easily seen? What color is hardest to see? Why are many fishing lures painted yellow?

Post-Fishing

What did you see?

What did you notice?

What questions do you have?

What would you do differently next time?

On the ride home, a simple conversation can give you a sense of what your child enjoyed and what he learned. Answer questions if you can but be sure to leave some for your child to research. Make sure to end with the most important question: do you want to go fishing again?

Dos and Don'ts When Fishing with Kids

Don't assume a child will love fishing just because you do.

Be prepared with suntan lotion and bug spray.

Don't plan a long trip.

Have alternative activities ready to go.

Don't expect to catch fish.

Plan to spend your time freeing up snags and hooking bait.

Bring two fishing rods per child. This will let you fix tangles and snags while your child can still be fishing.

Bring snacks and drinks.

Bring field guides for fish, animals, plants or insects.

Children should wear eye protection and hats

20 Science Concepts Your Child Needs to know that can be Learned by Fishing

organism

adapt

population

characteristic

predator

prey

producer

consumer

life cycle

positive impact

negative impact

compare

contrast

length

carnivore

omnivore

herbivore

food chains

food webs

ecosystems

Three Great Reads for Kids Who Love to Catch Fish:

Hatchet by Gary Paulsen

How to Eat Fried Worms by Thomas Rockwell

My Side of the Mountain by Jean Craighead George

Michael Stead is a fourth grade teacher in the Chatham Central School District. He is also the author of Fishing with a Fork: Secrets the Fishing Industry Doesn’t want you to Know. For more information, go to [http://www.fishingwithafork.com]