Activity
3 - Construction of a Classroom Aquarium
SUBJECT::
Language Arts, Math, & Social Studies
TEKS: 110.6
(4.5)(B) •
(4.19)(A)(B) •
111.6 (4.11)(B)
• 113.6
(4.18)(A)(B)
OBJECTIVES:
The student will be able
to:
1. Develop cooperative learning skills.
2. Develop oral communication skills.
3. Follow a set of multi-step directions.
MATERIALS:
•
a 10 or 20 gallon freshwater and/or salt water
aquarium
•
a bag of aquarium gravel sufficient to cover the bottom of the aquarium
•
a freshwater pump with tubing
•
a filter set up for the size of tank that is used
•
plastic aquarium plants
•
small bottle of chlorine neutralizer
•
small fish net
•
a plastic colander for washing gravel
•
one-gallon plastic jugs (brought by students)
•
kitchen sponges
•
chlorine bleach/water solution (one cup chlorine bleach to one gallon
of water)
•
plastic gloves and goggles
•
fish for aquarium
•
chlorine test kit
•
additional test kits recommend by the pet store
SUGGESTIONS:
If your science budget does not allow for the purchase
of these materials, contact your local pet store and ask if they would
be willing to sponsor a classroom aquarium. Also, parents or community
members may be willing to donate used aquarium materials. You may want
to place an add in your local newspaper requesting aquarium no longer
being used.
INTRODUCTION:
This activity stresses cooperative learning and oral
communication skills. Students will have the opportunity to work in
groups and to explain the importance of their group's function.
LESSON/ACTIVITY:
1.
Divide the students into five groups.
The group titles will be:
Tank/Plant
Filter/Pump
Gravel
Water
Fish
Tank/Plants:
This group is in charge of cleaning the
tank before it is filled and arranging the plants after the gravel is
placed in the bottom by the Gravel group.
Filter/Pump:
This group is responsible for setting
up the filter/pump system according to the manufacturer's directions.
Gravel:
This group is in charge of cleaning the
gravel and arranging it in the bottom of the aquarium.
Water:
This group is responsible for filling
the one-gallon milk jugs with water and adding the required amount of
chlorine neutralizer to each gallon that is added to the aquarium.
Fish:
This group is responsible for the movement
of the fish from their plastic bags into the aquarium water.
2.
Have the Tank/Plant group gather the equipment needed to wash the aquarium.
This includes the sponges and chlorine/water solution. Plastic gloves
and goggles must be worn when washing the tank. Locate them near a large
sink where they can clean and rinse the aquarium. A janitor's sink may
be a good size for this job. Explain to the group that the tank must be
clean so that the fish will not be infected with any germs that may be
in the dirty tank. It is also important that the tank be rinsed completely
to provide a healthful environment for the fish. Have the group devise
a plan for cleaning the aquarium.
CAUTION: Make
sure the chlorine is rinsed out thoroughly because the chlorine can kill
the fish. Adult supervision is advised.
3.
The Filter/Pump group should read over the manufacturer's directions.
If the directions are difficult for the students to understand, paraphrase
them for the students. Make sure they understand their responsibilities
before they put the equipment together. Explain to the group that the
air pump is necessary because it keeps air in the water for the fish to
breath. The filter works to remove harmful particles from the water. Have
the students clean the equipment before it is put into the aquarium.
4. Have the Gravel
group prepare the gravel by rinsing it thoroughly in the colander. After
they finish, have them set aside the colander with the gravel so that
it may drain and dry. The gravel must be clean to prevent harmful organisms
from infecting the fish.
5.
Ask the Gravel group to help the Water group
fill their one-gallon jugs. Fill 10 jugs (for a 10-gallon tank) and
have each group member add the required amount of neutralizer to each
jug. Explain that chlorine is added to our drinking water to kill germs
that may be harmful to us. Chlorine neutralizer must be added because
fish can not live in water that contains chlorine. Repeat with 10 more
jugs if using a 20-gallon aquarium. Set aside the jugs until the aquarium,
gravel, and pump/filter are ready.
6.
After the pump/filter system is set up and in the aquarium, have
the Gravel group pour the gravel into the aquarium.
7.
Next, the Tank/Plant group can arrange the plastic plants in the gravel.
8. Each student
in the Water group may now pour in a gallon of water into the aquarium.
9.
Plug in the aquarium pump to see if the filter is working properly when
covered by water.
10. Test
the chlorine levels with the chlorine test kit.
11. Have the Fish
group place the bags with the fish in the aquarium. DO NOT RELEASE THE
FISH INTO THE AQUARIUM WATER! Explain that the fish are very sensitive
to temperature changes. It is important that they are acclimated to the
water temperature in the tank before they are released. Leave the bags
floating in the aquarium so that the water in the bags may reach the temperature
of the water in the aquarium. This process should take about 4-5 hours.
When ready, let the Fish group release the fish into the aquarium water.
12. After two weeks
test for ammonia.
CLOSURE:
After the aquarium is working properly, ask each student
to write a short essay on the importance of his/her group's function
in constructing the aquarium. Ask each to read his/her essay to the
class.
Also, ask the students to summarize the process they
had to go through to set up the aquarium.
