Education Resources

Fish Eggs to Fry

Overview

• Eggs to Fry Program Flyer (pdf)

This project involves bringing salmon and trout eggs into the classroom to be raised by the students in an aquarium and then released.  It is a great way to expose school age children to the life cycle and habitat requirements of Oregon’s Salmon and Trout.

• Videos:
• Eggs to Fry Program Overview - A 2 minute introduction to the Fish Eggs to Fry Program.
• Classroom Egg Delivery – A 7 ½ minute video showing an example of a classroom delivery.  There are many ways to do the delivery.  The important thing is to get kids connected with the fish.
• Classroom Fry Release - A 4 minute video showing an example of a fry release day by a classroom.  There are many ways to do the release.  The important thing is to get kids connected with the fish and watershed.

Getting Started in the Classroom Egg Incubation Project Forms

• Contact your local STEP Biologist early on if you are interested in incorporating a fish egg to fry set up in your classroom. They can help you get started and identify your options. Egg delivery times and the number of aquariums available to borrow vary by location.
  
  
• When you are ready to request eggs, fill out the Egg Request form and send it to the local STEP Biologist as far in advance as possible ( 2-6 months is usually plenty). Last minute requests may be filled based on availability of eggs.
  
  
• While the eggs are in the classroom you will need to record important information on a daily basis. The Daily Progress form needs to be returned to the STEP Biologist within 15 days of release.
  
  
• The Report of Operations form which summarizes your project and release will need to be completed and returned to the local STEP Biologist within 15 days of release.

Fish Egg to Fry Resources

• Volunteer manual – This 2013 manual is designed to help volunteers get involved with and support classroom incubators. It is also a useful reference to teachers and others involved in the program.
• Classroom Aquarium Guide – This 2020 guide was trimmed to cover just the information needed for aquarium setup and the rearing of fry. The 1999 manual below contains many more options and supplemental information.
• An Educator's Resource Guide for Hatching Salmon and Trout in the Classroom (pdf) – This1999 manual includes additional activities, games, and resources that can be used to support your classroom aquarium.
• Temperature Unit Calculator and release date estimator.  This excel spreadsheet is provided as a tool to help identify temperature settings, hatch dates, and release dates.
• PowerPoint Presentations – These slide shows are provided with speakers notes and designed to help introduce classrooms to the salmon of Oregon.
• Salmonid Life Cycle – 13 slides covering the typical life cycle of salmon and steelhead.
• Salmonid Species – 15 slides identifying Oregon’s salmon species and their ranges.
• Salmonid Habitat – 13 slides covering the habitat requirements of Oregon’s salmon.
• Salmon Conservation, Culture, and Economy – 13 slides that discuss the value of salmon and considerations for salmon conservation.

• Videos
  • Salmon Life Cycle - A 5 ½ minute video covering the entire salmon life cycle.
  • Classroom Aquarium Type 1: Standard Setup and Overview – This 4 minute video provides an overview of the components and set up of the most commonly used style of aquarium, chiller, and pump.
  • Classroom Aquarium Type 2: Common Portland Area Setup – A nearly 8 minute video that describes a common aquarium set up used by the Association of Northwest Steelheaders in the Portland area.  This video also provides some detailed information not included in the video for Classroom Aquarium Type 1.
  • Classroom Aquarium Type 3: Wine Chiller with a Small Tank – This 2 minute video describes a set up that is best suited to classrooms with limited counter space.
  • Aquarium Care and Maintenance – A 5 minute video that covers many of the tips and tricks for maintain a healthy environment in your classroom aquarium.

The Stream Scene

This 550-page book guides learning from the larger perspective of watershed systems -- their upland, riparian, and aquatic areas -- to the aquatic life they support. Each unit provides background information, vocabulary, a bibliography, extensions, learning activities (teacher and student versions) with education standards alignment, suggestions for younger students, and scientific inquiry adaptations.

Introduction (pdfs)

• Using this book
• Getting started
• Water Cycle
• Watersheds
• Uplands
• Riparian Areas
• Hydrology (Water Dynamics / Water Quantity / Streambed)
• Water Quality (Nutrients / Water Temperature / Dissolved Oxygen / pH / Sediments)
• Aquatic Organisms (Food Processing / Salmon Life Cycle / Fish Habitat Needs)
• Make-and-Take Field Equipment
• Salmon-Trout Enhancement Program
• Field Investigations
• Oregon's Education Standards
• Resources

Other Resources

• Fish Anatomy Inside (pdf)
• Fish Anatomy Outside (pdf)
• Fishing is Funtastic (pdf)
• Native Fishes of the Rogue River poster (pdf)
  
  

This program receives federal financial assistance in Sport Fish Restoration and prohibits discrimination on the basis of race, color, national origin, age, sex, or disability. If you believe that you have been discriminated against as described above in any program, activity, or facility, or if you desire further information, please contact ADA Coordinator, Oregon Fish and Wildlife, 4034 Fairview Industrial Dr. SE, Salem, OR 97302, 503-947-6200, or write Office for Human Resources, US Fish and Wildlife Service, Department of the Interior, Washington, DC 20240. This material will be furnished in alternate format for people with disabilities if needed. Please call 503-947-6000 to request such materials.