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Grade Six G.S. Lakie Middle School Students Release Trout into Nicholas Sheran Lake

Jun 8, 2016 | 3:30 PM

LETHBRIDGE – Grade six students from G.S. Lakie Middle School made quite the splash Wednesday (June 8) as they released fish that they had raised in the classroom into Nicholas Sheran Lake.

An environmental science unit which spanned five months gave 31 students the opportunity to hatch and raise over 60 trout.

The students transferred their homegrown fish from a classroom tank to a five-gallon bucket with a lid and then to zip-lock bags where the fish were able to acclimatize to their new home.

Vanessa Valgardson, Program teacher, said that the kids were eager to learn about the life cycle because of the hands-on approach.

“It’s always good to combine theory with practice. The children had to follow water changes, feeding schedules, tank observations.”

Valgardson said that she wanted to bring her passion of fishing into the classroom and that the project has surpassed textbook learning.

“It teaches the kids about having passion in life and finding ways to include that passion in what they do. It also gets students involved in another area of interest that they might not have thought of.”

Valgardson added that she has also noticed students recognizing new job opportunities in wildlife, previously unknown to them.

“Some of the students have realized that they can follow in a new career path, like a biologist or official wildlife officer.”

Participants from this year will serve as mentors to next year’s grade six student project.