Trout in the Classroom

FISHERSVILLE —

When Courtney Rodgers turns off the lights in her classroom and leaves Wilson Middle School for winter break this afternoon, she can only hope that what happened last year doesn't happen again this year.

"It's gonna go great," she said to her seventh-grade science class on Thursday afternoon. "We're all praying that the fish are gonna be okay."

Last year, the first year Rodgers was working with Trout in the Classroom, the power went out at the school over the break, cutting off the cooling and filtration system in her trout tank at the back of the room.

Of the dozens of fish there before she left in December, only 30 remained. In the coming weeks, that number was whittled down to about 10.

It was a small tragedy for the class, but with every downside comes a learning opportunity, and in that instance, students learned that above a certain temperature, the brown trout they studied cannot thrive. The 30 that did demonstrated their strength; survival of the fittest as explored through a fish tank.

The students are keen, Rodgers said. They observe the checks and balances nature puts in place during the life cycle.

"The kids will say 'Hey, Miss Rodgers, for everything bad, there's also something good that happens,'" Rodgers said. "They just gather that through discussion."

On Thursday, students continued with Trout in the Classroom, removing fish from the tank for the first time in weeks as they have entered their fry stage. As Rodgers' net dipped into the water, the tiny fish zipped through the water, the gold flecks on their back shining brightly under the tank's lamp.

Students examined the trout with a microscope, answering questions about their body parts and coloring in a picture based on their observations.

"I was like in fourth grade, and we did something on fish," said Cameron Eavey. "But we never got to see them, and now we do. It's easier."

Dustin Turner said he enjoyed observing the fish this time, and was interested to see the difference in the fry from the alevins.

"Their stomach sacs are going away," he said.
"And they're swimming," added Natalie Moser.

Rodgers will leave her students' beloved trout this afternoon, but just in case something should happen while school's out, 2-liter bottles filled with water are waiting in the freezer for the moment that water starts to warm.

"We've got ice on hand," she said, laughing.