Lesson Plan
Consortium for Ocean Science Exploration and Engagement (COSEE)

Fish Morphology

For Teachers 3rd - 12th Standards
Life comes in all different shapes and sizes, and fish are no exception. Here, young scientists create fish prints as they learn how specific characteristics allow different species to survive in their particular habitats.
Lesson Plan
Project Oceanography

Fish Shape

For Teachers 4th - 7th
A fish's size, fins, and shape can tell us a lot about them! Learners explore fish anatomy to see how species use camouflage, scales, shape, and coloration to survive. The lesson includes advanced vocabulary such as fusiform shape,...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Create a Fish

For Teachers 3rd - 8th
Don't just teach learners to fish, but to create fish. The class discusses fish heads and predicts whether where the fish might live and what it eats. Given an index card with a fish adaptation written on it, pupils construct an...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Freshwater Fish Anatomy & Taxonomy

For Teachers 10th
Tenth graders use a classification key to identify organisms.  In this classification lesson students identify freshwater species of fish and document their observations. 
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Word Search: Fish

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Youngsters find these common tropical fish in this word search. Each of the fish has a colorful representation on the worksheet. There is also an answer key at the bottom of the worksheet. The colors make this an appealing exercise for...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish Communities in the Hudson

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Learning to read data tables is an important skill. Use this resource for your third, fourth, or fifth graders. Learners will will study tables of fish collection data to draw conclusions. The data is based on fish environments in the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Floating Fishes: How do Fishes Control Buoyancy?

For Teachers 7th - 12th
Playing with balloons, water, oil, and bottles help put this lesson over the top! Participants use air-filled balloons in water tanks to experience gas compression. They also use oil-filled bottles to experiment with buoyancy. Included...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

National Marine Sanctuaries Fish

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Information is provided on Gray's Reef, Florida Keys, and Flower Garden Banks marine sanctuaries. Young marine biologists then visit the FishBase and REEF databases to collect fish species information for each location. They then...
Lesson Plan
Moorea Coral Reef Long-Term Ecological Research Program

Paper Plate Fishes

For Teachers K - 3rd
Tropical fish make great art projects! Use paper plates to design, color, and assemble round and oval-shaped fish based on photographs of actual fish found along the Moorea Coral Reef. Kids learn about different fins- including the...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Go Fish!

For Teachers 9th - 12th
So much science in one tiny fish! Introduce young biologists to the zebrafish, a common aquarium inhabitant. The small, unassuming organism presents an opportunity for learners to study habituation using an easy-to-care-for species. Lab...
Lesson Plan
Aquarium of the Pacific

Fish for a Day

For Teachers K - 2nd
A short video shows how a scuba divers' equipment relates to major parts of a fish. Learners draw two fish and identify what aspects are the same and which are different. The scholars then draw a scuba diver, making sure they provide all...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life-Like Replicas: Fish

For Teachers 1st - 12th
Students research a fish or other underwater animal that interests them. They compare and contrast the images they gather with the different stages of production of their sculptural model to create a life-like replica. Students represent...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Common Nearshore Fishes

For Teachers 1st - 3rd
Here is a word search that has a variety of common nearshore fish to be found in a word search. There are 16 fish in all, and a colorful and accurate picture of each is on the worksheet. This is a very good review resource for young...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Colorful Fish Adaptations

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
I love lessons that incorporate the arts, they're so engaging and address a more diverse set of learners. Your class will investigate the reasons fish from the coal reef have adapted such colorful fins. They design a fish that uses color...
Lesson Plan
California Academy of Science

Fish Prints

For Teachers 3rd - 5th Standards
What do a dead fish, conservation, and paint have in common? The answer is a great lesson about fish anatomy, fun print making techniques, and unsustainable fishing practices. The class will start by making fish prints with a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish and zooplankton habitat through remote sensing

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers are exposed to the variety of ways in which scientist use remote sensing and it used in everyday life. They investigate about zooplankton and fish. Students list the two important groups of organisms in both aquatic and...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

The Impact of Fishing

For Teachers 2nd - 4th
Students explore the concept of fishing as it relates to oceans and how some fishing practices can damage the health of the marine ecosystems. In this activity on the impact of fishing, students research the many places in the world...
Lesson Plan
Polar Trec

Frozen Fish? Unique Adaptations of Antarctic Fish

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
Some fish contain proteins that act like antifreeze in order for them to live in the frigid waters of Antarctica! High schoolers determine how much antifreeze a fish needs to lower its body temp to -2.5 degrees. Teachers act as a...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish Tank Territories

For Teachers 3rd - 9th
Students observe swimming and resting patterns of aquarium fish to determine how different parts of the habitat are used. Different pairs of students should compare their results after several days to look for daily patterns.
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Fish and Ladders: Grades 9-12

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Swim with the big fish. Using a similar simulation as Fish and Ladders: Grade 5-8, pupils model the migration of Chinook salmon. A large group of the learners play the role of fish, while others are fishers, predators, and hazards....
Lesson Plan
Nature Works Everywhere

Fishing for a Future

For Students 9th - 12th Standards
Teaching a man to fish has an environmental impact. Through a series of four lessons, learners study the science of fishery management. Their study involves analyzing data to develop a management strategy for specific fish and common...
Lesson Plan
National Wildlife Federation

Fish and Ladders: Grades 5-8

For Teachers 5th - 8th
Swim with the fishes. Learners simulate the migration of Chinook salmon. Groups pretend to be salmon, while others are predators, fishers, and hazards. The salmon start in the spawning area and swim downstream to the ocean until reaching...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Fish Anatomy

For Teachers 2nd - 10th
Add a handy reference sheet about fish anatomy and functioning to your learners' biology or animal notebooks. Though this resource doesn't provide any practice, it makes a useful addition to any study of anatomy, biology, species, fish,...
Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Flying Fish Stabile

For Teachers 1st - 6th
Students research the similarities and differences between stabiles and mobiles, and the physics principles embodied in each construction. They investigate different types of fish and their habitats, paying special attention to their...

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