Trout in the Classroom, Released

As part of the Middle School science curriculum, Barnesville 7th graders raised rainbow trout from eggs and released the fingerlings into Little Seneca Creek.
Trout in the Classroom (TIC) is a hands-on environmental program in which students raise trout from eggs to fingerlings, manage chilled tank water quality, engage in stream habitat study, learn to appreciate water resources, develop a conservation ethic, and are taught to understand ecosystem connectivity.
For months, students have been monitoring in the pH levels. A healthy stream naturally maintains its balance, but students had to add chemicals to maintain proper water quality in the classroom tank.
On May 14, students went to Little Seneca Creek and tested the water for ammonia, nitrates, and pH level. Students also used nets to collect various organisms such as Mayfly Nymphs, Crayfish, Black Fly Larvae, and Dragonfly Nymphs. These spineless organisms living at the bottom of a stream or creek are an indicator of the health of the ecosystem.
With assurance that the water was suitable for the young trout, fingerlings were then released into the creek.
Coincidently, the winner of this year’s Seventh Grade Science Fair had conducted research on the ideal water pH level for microscopic invertebrates.
A short video is on Facebook.

Barnesville School of Arts & Sciences is an independent private school in Montgomery County, Maryland offering innovative preschool through 8th grade programs. Cross-curricular teaching encourages students to explore how subjects relate to one another, helping them to make connections that spark inquiry and deepen understanding. Small classes enable skilled teachers to engage each child in an academically challenging environment. Our 30-acre campus is our extended classroom, and we integrate nature into everyday learning.