For the past 15 years, I have been doing a project in my classroom that tops all of the other projects I do. It is the type of project that comes up in any conversations I have with past students who are back for a visit. Years ago, my brain conceived this project and it has only gotten better with time! When I do it, we create an ACTUAL FISH TANK in our classroom. Other teachers have used the project as more of a Project Based Learning project where students create a hypothetical fish tank. Either way, I promise you, your class will be HIGHLY motivated to do the reading, writing, math, science, art and public speaking that comes with it!
Grouping Students:
I have typically done 5 groups for this project, but you can do what suits your class the best. My groups are usually 4-5 students in each.
Project Steps:
- Background Pages:
These pages include estimation of liquids, Addition and Subtraction of money, and how Many Inches of Fish Can you buy
2. Fish Research:
The next step is reading and learning about the types of fish available for the project. Students sit in their group and read the information about the fish. They highlight the important information and record it in their packet on the “Fish Note Taking Sheet.”
3. Fish Selection & Cost Calculation:
Next is the fun part! Students use their notes and work with their group to pick their fish. The students LOVE this step! Once the group has selected their fish, they have to work within their budget to be sure they don’t go over budget!
4. Choosing Supplies & Cost Calculation:
Students work together to read about and decide on the supplies they want to get for their tank. They use the provided sheets to make their choices and come up with a total cost for their supplies. They have to work within their budget and if they go over budget, they have to adjust their choices.
5. Illustrate your Aquarium:
Each group gets one large piece of white construction paper (I use 12” x 18”) that I draw a rectangle on with a Sharpie and a ruler. They draw the fish their actual size (we use a ruler and draw a line 1” or 2” or 4” long). Then they look at the fish selection sheet and draw their fish! Once drawn, fish are outlined with a thin Sharpie and colored accurately with colored pencils. Then they add their supplies to their illustration. Once all items are colored, I give them watercolors to paint the water blue.
6. Plan/Write Persuasive Speech:
Students brainstorm the positive qualities about the tank they created. They think about the types of fish they picked, the colors, the temperament, etc. They might also think about the look of the tank, or the supplies that they chose. They can use the planning sheet to organize their thoughts and ideas. Then they will work to write a persuasive speech that they are going to give to the class. We talk about being persuasive and possibly using a counterargument or counterclaim.
7. Presentations:
We attach the writing pieces and pictures to a larger piece of construction paper, poster board, or even chart paper. They practice and then present their tank to the class. They answer audience questions. If you are making a real tank, students are able to vote for the tank they want (not their own).
This project also includes a reflection sheet and a rubric.
Whether you are planning on having an aquarium in your classroom or you are just looking for a REAL WORLD project your class is going to be pumped to do, this is for you! I cannot tell you how motivated my class is and how quickly they start looking up books at the library about aquariums and fish!
Check out the benefits of aquariums in your classroom here.
Enjoy~
~Heather
