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Provided by: Illinois Department of Natural Resources |Published on: June 20, 2025
Lesson Plans
678
Synopsis
This lesson plan from the Illinois Department of Natural Resources explores the importance of stocking fish in lakes and ponds.
Using real-life examples, students have to complete calculations to show what a healthy community of fish would look like for various-sized ponds and lakes.
The lesson plan includes background information, procedural steps, extension activities, and an activity page for students to complete.
The lesson plan integrates math and science to explore how the proper stocking of fish in lakes and ponds is essential in keeping the balance of a delicate ecosystem that depends on proper human interactions.
Prerequisites
The teacher should be aware of the math computation needed to complete the activity. Teachers can have students complete work using the standard algorithm or supply calculators for students. The use of calculators can also be based on need and used as a differentiation strategy.
The teacher should print enough student activity pages for the entire class.
Differentiation & Implementation
Teachers should consider the best way to share the background information included in the lesson plan with his/her students. The teacher may want to consider putting the information into a slide presentation before completing the student activity page.
In this lesson, students are exploring the potential positive impact humans have on the ponds and lakes. However, humans also have a negative impact on the environment. Students can come up with a pro and con list of the impact humans have on the environment in various ways by researching. Students can analyze if it's better for the environment to have human interaction or if it's better to have a hands-off approach.
Students can continue to explore the impact humans have on the ecosystem by watching this video and reading this article, discussing what happens to marine animals when the ecosystems become unbalanced.
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