Seventh Graders are Raising Trout

There are many fish in the sea…and about 100 of them are at Briarcliff Manor Middle School.

Seventh graders in Jessica Loprieno’s science class have been raising brook trout since mid-December and so far there are more than 100 in the tank.

As part of the “Trout in the Classroom” program, students have been learning all about raising trout. After receiving the eggs last month, students watched as the fish hatched several days later and have been enjoying watching them grow each day.

“The program aims to teach students about the trout life cycle as well as maintenance and care, and it helps restock local streams as well,” Ms. Loprieno said.

Students have been checking the water chemistry in the tank and have also been enjoying feeding the fish. According to Ms. Loprieno, the fish do not need to be fed every day since they are wild animals and would not eat on a daily basis if they were out in nature.

The program teaches students many concepts that Ms. Loprieno can then highlight in her science lessons, such as survival of the fittest, genetic mutations (there are a few two-headed fish), reproduction and innate abilities, such as feeding, which some fish never learn to do.)

“The students are so excited to help maintain the tank and watch them grow,” Ms. Loprieno said.

Ms. Loprieno is starting a Nature Club soon where a group of students will be taking over some of the responsibilities of caring for the fish and maintaining the tank until it is time to release them into a local stream, in the spring.