Three years ago, Jack Harvey and Julia Huggins, both Southside High School Science teachers, began their STEM project adopting Rainbow Trout eggs for their classrooms. Each year the students had the opportunity to raise them from eggs and release them into the Guadalupe River when the time came. “It’s fun to watch them grow and swim around.” Senior, Lisanda Simonon exclaimed. Another year has gone by and we have a new group of students and trout!
Last month, both classrooms received their fish eggs from the Trout Unlimited Group, funded by the Guadalupe River Trout Unlimited. They provided all the equipment needed to help maintain a healthy ecosystem for the fish during all the stages of life.
This hands-on STEM project is a great learning experience for the students. The growth of the fish can be tied to science lessons at almost every lesson, from lifecycles and ecosystems to strategies used by fish for their continuous survival.
Since the trout will be released in the wild, the classroom aims to imitate the same lifestyle. They’ve included two pipes running on opposite ends of the tank to replicate Guadalupe River’s flowing current, maintaining the colder temp, and repeatedly testing the water’s PH and ammonia levels to ensure it stays optimal.
After that, it’s survival of the fittest. The young trout who can eat and swim with the current will likely be capable of surviving in the wild. Those who noticeably struggle to keep up are left on their own. “We’ve noticed a couple who struggle but can’t help them.” noted senior, Joshua Rendon.
The young trout will have four more months to continue building their muscles and growing in size before they are released. “The students really look forward to visiting the river and releasing their trout in May.” Mr. Jack Harvey states. At that time, they are expected to be the size of your pinky, but with time can grow up to four feet in length!
