It was a small 1.5 gallon tank with a pump, filter, and light, and three little glofish. Set up was super easy and in a day or so, my classroom had a gurgling fish tank and a few little fishies swimming around. The kids loved it - we named the fish, fed them each morning, watched them swim, and had fishy funeral services when necessary. A really nice addition to the classroom.
I hadn't used the tank in a couple of years but I remembered the calming sounds of the bubbling water, the quiet hum of the pump, and how mesmerized the children were when they were watching the fish swim around. So I decided to pull the tank back out and set it up this year.
But this time, I really wanted the fish tank to be more of a learning tool instead of a passive, decorative fixture. And the Fish Tank Literacy Center was on its way.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEhfC0TnPIGgX0m5ZXH2UCGBZeyGUOyVwXjvjk4R0WP2RiiylXmfxuGs44RZ-jEbgvJLnCwMHeVGXFQV8SCsCL7PG0JPsI_otfZ5xPj07pohao8k_9H0VmdqUoEqw4MfNYXsmZOgFrcIO94/s640-rw/fish+tank3.png)
The tank was very easy to set up and maintain, the supplies are inexpensive, and the fish have been healthy and active. The original kit came glofish which cost about $10 each. I wasn't willing to spend $20 or $30 on most likely short lived glofish no matter how cool they looked under the blacklight.
So I opted for $1.99 guppies. They are colorful with large swishy tails and the kids just love them!
Now for the activities in the station. I had a million ideas, but I settled on a writing and research emphasis.
I gathered as many books about fish as I could find, both fiction and nonfiction. (I even found a book on making origami fish:) The black basket on the bottom holds all the books.
Then I searched TpT to find a few grade level appropriate activities for the students to research and write about fish. There are the two that I am currently using:
Next, I added a journal.
And an I Can card - the timer is to remind the students not to watch the fish for too long before getting to work.
![](https://blogger.googleusercontent.com/img/b/R29vZ2xl/AVvXsEgQk2l2tSTpn5bUun5m5tjTdRkaqakQkxVBPBM5lmDfRA7B0NmjWE1BvFHtRgMGUJ5t8ySNJACc-n7GlM872TXWXXkUTwrggaY9HZ7ilF1b9e6_EmtLTqG-0q7APbEaBDw8s4DwtHWk1zo/s400-rw/fish4.png)
If you are interested in ordering a fish tank through the Pets in the Classroom grant, go to this link to apply:
Pets in the Classroom Grant Page
I just love this post and idea. The graphics you've used look so fresh and inviting too. Thanks for sharing.
ReplyDeleteSo honored to see my resource here. :)
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