Students in Mrs. Custodio's fifth-grade class are raising trout from eggs to fingerlings (small fish) in a coldwater aquarium during the school year. It is a unique opportunity to teach the relevance of watersheds.
The program begins with assembling an aquarium system to host hundreds of trout. Once a healthy ecosystem is established for the trout, eggs arrive and the months-long process begins by monitoring tank conditions so that a percentage of the sensitive trout eggs survive.
Over the course of the next few months, students witness the trout life cycle. The students will also care for the trout and their environment. This care translates into a deep understanding and connection to the watershed systems on which all life depends.
The program culminates with a field trip to Stone Mountain State Park where students release their fish into a state-approved location.
Special thanks to the Stone Mountain Chapter of Trout Unlimited for supplying the tank and supporting equipment and supplies for this program and the North Carolina Wildlife Resources Commission for supplying the trout fry and food.