The Story of Nimbus Fish Hatchery

• This set of four lessons and additional resources details how building dams can impact fish populations and how one fish hatchery in California is acting to help endangered salmon survive.
• Students will learn about the history of the Nimbus dam, why it was built, the journey of salmon during their life cycle, the importance of salmon as a keystone species, fish ladders, water pollution, how climate change affects fish populations, and what people can do to help endangered fish species.

Positives

• This resource is incredibly detailed and includes everything needed in order to complete a small unit. 
• It includes presentation slides with notes, worksheets, lesson plans, a family guide, engaging games, and videos. 

Additional Prerequisites

• Students should have a basic understanding of how human activity impacts ecosystems and species. 
• Teachers will need to make physical copies or digitally distribute worksheets for student completion. 
• The links for the readings and audio clips in the slide presentations do not function.
• The list of beach clean-ups to join is for California only, but you could have students sign up for stream clean-ups in their local area.
  

Differentiation

• Connections can be made in health classes discussing sources of food or social studies classes learning about how human society impacts the environment. 
• Consider chunking the lessons into smaller parts for younger students or classes who struggle with longer sessions.
• Science classes can use this resource to introduce many ecology concepts including ecosystems, keystone species, predator-prey interactions, and habitat destruction or degradation.
• Engineering classes can discuss the fish ladders, the design of the dams, and the infrastructure needed to transport water to other areas of California from the dams.
  
• As an extension, have students write a reflection at the end of each session about their learning.