Quick Guide

• Preparation Time: 30 to 45 minutes
• Learning Time: 10 to 30 minutes
• Estimated materials cost: $5 - $10 per group of students
• Age Range: Ages 4 - adult
• Resource Type: Activity
• Language: English

Materials List (per group of students)

• 1 transparent tank per fish species. This activity seems to work best with at least 5-7 species. Try to get fish with a variety of mouth, body, and tail shapes if possible. (If you have a large aquarium exhibit to set up in front of, you may still want small tanks so that visitors can begin with a focused observation -– this is especially useful for younger visitors.)
• If you are doing this activity in front of a large tank, provide pictures of the fish in the tank you are observing for sorting purposes (especially for younger learners)
• Laminated pictures of other fish with a variety of tail, body and mouth shapes as well as coloration patterns
• A table that allows all fish species to be viewed simultaneously
• Color photographs of the habitats for each of the fish species you choose
• Appropriate food for each species
• Paper, crayons or markers, and possibly clipboards
• Optional: Fish wheel materials (See separate activity -- Fish Wheels)