Clear Creek Elementary School student, Kayla Heyden, gives her chum salmon fry a name before releasing it into Clear Creek in Silverdale,
Washington.
Connecting students and salmon
in their watershed
How rearing salmon in an elementary classroom can foster powerful
teaching and learning in the content areas, environmental awareness, and
good stewardship of the Earth
By Daniel S. King, PhD
y transition in January of this year to a new teaching Furthermore, I’ve learned that through real-world inquiry-based
M
position outside of public schools has caused me learning activities even the least motivated students become
to reflect on my 11 years as an elementary school exceptionally engaged in the learning process. It is true that over
teacher. There is no doubt that my work as a public the course of 10 years I took over 900 children in kindergarten
school teacher was rewarding in countless ways; however, the through 6th grade on salmon release field trips without experi-
most profound, meaningful, and enjoyable experience for me encing any serious behavior issues! Clearly, outdoor education
during my years as an elementary school teacher was participat- provides opportunities for powerful teaching and learning events
ing in a Salmon in the Classroom Project. Likewise, I believe the for all types of learners. Indeed, the outdoors provides a positive
project has had a positive and enduring impact on the hundreds context for learning in a way that cannot be duplicated within the
of students that participated along with me. confines of a classroom.
As an elementary school teacher I had taught every level
from kindergarten through 6th grade. My experience teaching at
Salmon in the Classroom
each of these grade levels enabled me to become familiar with the
broad K-6 curriculum as well as the developmental continuum of
Each January, shortly after my students returned from winter
K-6 learners. One of the most important things I learned from my
break, they would arrive at school one morning surprised to see
wide-ranging teaching experience is that a vast majority of chil-
a new addition to the classroom — a specially designed salmon
dren at every elementary grade level are passionate about protect-
tank set up and ready to receive salmon eggs. Within a few days
ing animals and animal habitats in the world in which they live.
of discovering the salmon tank, a volunteer from the local Kiwan-
is Club would arrive unannounced with a small burlap bag full of
Page 14 http://www.clearingmagazine.org Clearing - 2009 Compendium Edition
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