Trout in the Classroom Release
By: Rachel Polansky
Updated: June 1, 2012
There are dozens of teaching methods out there, and different teachers will tell you they're all the best. Some Poland Central School District teachers say the best learning takes place outside the classroom - and today that meant right in the school's backyard. Trout in the classroom is a unique and very hands-on project.
Every Poland third grader has been raising their very own trout since October. And today the students released the fish into the wild.
"I've been waiting, I've been excited. When I got here, my heart was going really fast and I was trying to hold that all in so I didn't get too excited," says third grade student Grace Braonlich.
The project has been going hand-in-hand with fish facts, wild life, and the environment. And teacher Tracy Graulich says the best learning often comes from learning with your hands.
"Teachers are trying to get the kids to do more hands on things. So this is one the things, where the kids don't have a worksheet, they're actually doing with their hands and when a student learns with their hands, they learn more. I can almost bet all these kids can probably teach there parents a few things about trout now," says Graulich.
It was a day filled with learning and excitement, but some of the students had a hard time letting go of their new friends.
"I'm happy and sad because we're gonna miss them, but I'm happy they're gonna be in an environment where they can get their own food and we don't have to feed them," says third grade student Hunter Papp.
"I am happy for him, he's in a better place, he's in nature. And I'm sad because he's my buddy, he's my friend, but I gotta let go some day though," says third grade student Kendra Walker.
In all, there were 44 brown trout raised by these third- graders. And, although some of the students were sad saying farewell to their new fish friends, they all agreed that trout in the classroom was their favorite project of the year.
Every Poland third grader has been raising their very own trout since October. And today the students released the fish into the wild.
"I've been waiting, I've been excited. When I got here, my heart was going really fast and I was trying to hold that all in so I didn't get too excited," says third grade student Grace Braonlich.
The project has been going hand-in-hand with fish facts, wild life, and the environment. And teacher Tracy Graulich says the best learning often comes from learning with your hands.
"Teachers are trying to get the kids to do more hands on things. So this is one the things, where the kids don't have a worksheet, they're actually doing with their hands and when a student learns with their hands, they learn more. I can almost bet all these kids can probably teach there parents a few things about trout now," says Graulich.
It was a day filled with learning and excitement, but some of the students had a hard time letting go of their new friends.
"I'm happy and sad because we're gonna miss them, but I'm happy they're gonna be in an environment where they can get their own food and we don't have to feed them," says third grade student Hunter Papp.
"I am happy for him, he's in a better place, he's in nature. And I'm sad because he's my buddy, he's my friend, but I gotta let go some day though," says third grade student Kendra Walker.
In all, there were 44 brown trout raised by these third- graders. And, although some of the students were sad saying farewell to their new fish friends, they all agreed that trout in the classroom was their favorite project of the year.
