English Blast Unit of Inquiry Lesson Plan
Unit of Inquiry Name: FISH
Unit Contributed by: Holly
Duration of Unit (in classroom hours): 3
Target Age Group (in years): 7 - 10
Basic Goals and Objectives: Introduce children to basic fish anatomy, develop
children's observation skills, work with microscopes, learn about adaptations.
Reference Materials Recommended (texts, workbooks, picture books,
maps, videos, websites, audio materials, etc.): Books or videos relating to fish
or the ocean; microscopes (for all children if possible; these are affordable and available at
local toy stores as well as on-line toy stores such as Toys R Us and on-line educational supply
stores such as Nasco); homepage of Susan Seagraves' Quest website (click on Under the Sea
for Fish).
Additional Notes, Suggestions or Comments about the Unit: The
Microscopes Unit designed to introduce children to microscopes should be completed before
doing this Fish Unit.
Week 1
Materials Required: Prepared handouts, quality watercolor paper (not calligraphy paper),
newspapers for work surface, various whole fish, watercolor paints, brushes of various sizes,
calligraphy ink or India ink
Class Content and Activities:
  1. Ask the children what makes a fish a fish and list the ideas on the board.
  2. Hand out copies of What is a fish? The Anatomy of a Bony Fish, The Bony Fish,
    Adaptations in Fish, and Fish Mini Book all from Susan Seagraves' Quest page.  Go
    over What is a fish? and The Anatomy of a Bony Fish.
  3. Set up work surface with newspaper and hand out a different type of fish (whole,
    purchased at a fish market) to each child and have them find and identify the different
    parts of the fish (see Seagraves' The Bony Fish).
  4. Have children sketch the fish on watercolor paper noting their fish's particular
    characteristics.  Then have them use watercolor paints to lightly add color.  Let these
    dry slightly then use sumi/calligraphy ink (or India ink) to add some accents, an outline
    of the eye and some details.
Homework: Have the children choose one bony fish to research and introduce to the  
class.  Have them bring a photograph if possible and write a paragraph about the fish.
Week 2
Materials Required: handouts from Week 1, various fish photographs (from the Internet
or books) that show interesting adaptations.
Class Content and Activities:
  1. Children give brief bony fish presentation.
  2. Explain the concept of adaptations for defense.  Show photos of fish showing
    coloration, hard outer skeleton (e.g. sea horse), poisonous spines (e.g. lion fish,
    stingray), body shape (e.g. flounder), false eyespots (e.g. four-eyed butterfly fish) and
    have children try to guess the adaptation.  Go over the handout list of Adaptations in
    Fish from Seagraves.
  3. Hand out photos of various fish and have the children identify any adaptations that they
    can find.  Then have the children explain their ideas for the purpose of the adaptation.
Homework: Design a fish.  Have the children draw their own fish in their writing journals
and then write a paragraph discussing the adaptations that they have given their fish.  Bring to
next class. All children bring microscopes to next class!
Week 3
Materials Required: One whole fish, microscopes, newspaper sheets, sharp knife or
cutter knife, cutting board, tweezers, towels for cleanup.
Class Content and Activities:
  1. Have children display and explain the fish that they designed.
  2. Set up microscopes for each child (or partners).  Set the fish on a cutting board and
    have the children observe it.  Hand out fish scales. Have children look at fish scales
    under the microscope (look for growth rings called circuli) and ask why fish have
    scales (external protection).  Look at skin, fins, some blood through the microscopes.  
    Then examine any other parts of the fish.  If there is time, parents can help cut into the
    fish so that children can examine the internal anatomy of the fish as well. Using the
    Microscope Exploration [add link] reproducible, have children draw and identify what
    they see.
  3. Play fish bingo (from Seagraves' site).  Fish concentration clapping game or any other
    fish related game.
Homework:
  1. Visit Seagraves' Under the Sea website.
  2. Have children try dissecting a fish! Get a whole, uncleaned fish from the market (the
    guide refers to a perch so try to choose something similar. Refer to the guidelines from
    Idaho teacher Deloy Roberts page on Fish Dissection.
  3. Have the children write about their impressions and discoveries in their writing journals.
ENGLISH BLAST!