Last updated: November 2, 2018
Lesson Plan
Chattahoochee's Cold Water Fisheries
- Grade Level:
- Middle School: Sixth Grade through Eighth Grade
- Subject:
- Science
- Lesson Duration:
- 90 Minutes
- State Standards:
- NATIONAL/STATE STANDARDS:
Georgia Performance Standards S7CS2, a, b, & c. S7CS4, b. S7CS5, a & b. S7L4, a & c.
Common Core Standards MCC7.SP.1, MCC7.SP.2, MCC7.SP.4, ELACCW4, & ELACC7W10 - Thinking Skills:
- Remembering: Recalling or recognizing information ideas, and principles. Understanding: Understand the main idea of material heard, viewed, or read. Interpret or summarize the ideas in own words. Applying: Apply an abstract idea in a concrete situation to solve a problem or relate it to a prior experience. Analyzing: Break down a concept or idea into parts and show the relationships among the parts.
Essential Question
What is a cold water fishery and why is it important for the Chattahoochee habitat?
Objective
The three species of trout that exist in Georgia/Chattahoochee
What a cold water fishery is
How a food web works and the frailty of a food web
The effects of global warming on cold water fisheries
What macro invertebrates are
Name the species of trout found in Georgia/Chattahoochee
Define Cold water fishery
Predict what will happen in a food web when organisms begin to disappear
Compare/contrast tail waters to natural trout streams
Describe the effects of global warming on cold water fisheries
Preparation
- Stream thermometers
- Lamotte Test kit
- Trout Models
- Storage Box
- Catch the Critter game
Lesson Hook/Preview
Trout streams are particularly susceptible to thermal pollution, because they need to maintain cold temperatures year round. Trout streams are either well shaded or receive cold groundwater inputs. Artificial tailwater fisheries may be created at the outflow from large dams, where the size of the reservoir creates a steep temperature difference, with colder water stored at the bottom of the reservoir near the outlet. The Chattahoochee River below Buford Dam is an example of a tailwater fishery.
Procedure
1. Pre-Trip lesson will be sent to school prior to scheduled Field Trip.
2. Once group is assembled, random questions will be asked to check for prior
knowledge.
3. Power point presentation “Cold Water Fisheries”.
4. “Catch the Critter” game
5. “Web of Life” game
6. Interpretive tour and stream work on Island Ford trails & Scavenger Hunt.
7. Power point Quiz to check for mastery of the standard. Answers can be written or
oral.
8. Self-Assessment/Post Trip Activity.
Vocabulary
thermal pollution, tail water fisheries, trout, Rainbow trout, Brook trout, Brown trout, sport fish, fishing, flyfishing, native, wild, headwaters, hatchery, Chattahoochee River National Recreation Area, stock, habitat, Trout Unlimited
Assessment Materials
At the conclusion of the field trip, ask students to write a letter to a future student in the class, family member, friend, etc., explaining what they learned on the Chattahoochee NRA field trip. This assignment provides useful feedback on student thinking and learning while promoting reflection on learning.