Paper or Electronic Methods:

1. Paper: large, white and colored paper. Matt board or construction paper may also be useful. See materials from Unit 3, Lesson I, with fish cards.
2. Classroom computer with Internet access, and illustration software.
   

Examples: Inspiration, Adobe illustrator*, Microsoft PowerPoint
*Note – example provided was created in Adobe Illustrator. Please send us feedback about which software would be the most useful in your classroom.

Go to the downloads page for: Fish Life Cycle Worksheet and Reproductive Strategies fact sheet.

1. Explain how, just like all animals, fish have a basic task — to reproduce. Discuss the basic fish life cycle.
2. Describe the two major reproductive strategies of animals. Contrast fish reproductive strategy with human reproductive strategy.
3. Describe spawning strategies used by Great Lakes fish. See the Reproductive Strategies fact sheet in downloads.
4. Create student groups and help each group select a Great Lakes fish.
5. Groups use the Internet or visit the library to learn more about the life cycle and preferred spawning habitat of their chosen fish.
6. Groups illustrate the fish’s life cycle using software or classroom materials. See the Fish Life Cycle worksheet in downloads.

Extension

Students hone charting skills using the data from the Reproductive Strategy Chart (see bottom of Reproductive Strategy Worksheet) to create a simple bar chart (electronically using Excel or on paper).  The objective for this activity is to encourage students to consider how to present data by creating a chart.  An example of a bar chart is below:

Source
FLOW Development Team.

Acknowledgements
Jim Diana, Professor of Natural Resources, School of Natural Resources and Environment and Associate Research Scientist, Center for Great Lakes & Aquatic Sciences, University of Michigan College of Literature Science and Arts; and graduate students from Professor Diana’s 2007 course, Biology and
Ecology of Fishes.

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