Small Groups
Students will learn about a particular Utah fish and then create a poster that shares what they learned.
Additional Resources
Agencies:
Fish are an interesting animal that are fun to observe. They breathe by gulping water through their mouth and pumping it over their gills. The gills take in oxygen from the water and replace the oxygen with carbon dioxide. Fish also have moveable fins on the top, underside and tail to keep itself upright. The tail fin also helps the fish swim. The fins located just behind the gills help the fish turn and stop. Fish have no external ears. Sound is carried to their inner ears by delicate nerve endings along their backs that sense vibrations and movement in the water.
The history of fish populations in Utah has changed over time. Today popular kinds of fish are trout, carp and catfish. Back when the Indians and pioneers were hunting, farming and living in the Great Basin, the fish species were very different. Native fish back then were squawfish, chub, whitefish, sucker and cisco. Many fish that are popular today were brought from other places. The native fish are sometimes considered “trash fish.”
Today in Utah, many of the native fish are disappearing. Because of disease, changing in habitat, and competition from the introduced fish, many of the native species are endangered. To preserve the biodiversity of Utah’s fish populations, biologists are working hard to protect these endangered fish. Luckily, some of the fish species are doing quite well. One of them, the Bonneville cutthroat trout, recently become Utah’s state fish.
1. Use science process and thinking skills
4. Communicate effectively using science language and reasoning
Pre-Assessment/Invitation to Learn
Play Hangman with students to spell the name of the Bonneville Cutthroat Trout.
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ | |
___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ | ___ ___ ___ ___ ___ |
Tell them it is the name of an animal that belongs to the group they will be studying. A clue might be that it is a vertebrate. Another would be that it was endangered. After students have solved the puzzle, discuss its claim to fame as Utah's state fish.
Instructional Procedure
Language Arts-
Science-
Math-
Home and Family Connections