White Bass, A Taste of Home?
Summary
In this unit Hmong students will evaluate a recent local event where white bass were transferred from one St Paul lake to another. Students will study white bass habitat and fishing accessibility in St. Paul and question MN DNR people (preferably a Hmong person) about the situation.
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Learning Goals
1-3 Learning Goals
1. Students will determine the critical elements of white bass habitat.
2. Students will research the effect of zebra mussel on the white bass habitat and the lakes and rivers where white bass live and spawn.
3. Student will demonstrate the ability to support their opinion with the research information they have collected.
Students will learn to ask questions to solicit information, research critical questions and write supported opinions using that information.
Vocabulary : white bass, habitat, critical elements, spawn, transfer, opinion, zebra mussel
1. Students will determine the critical elements of white bass habitat.
2. Students will research the effect of zebra mussel on the white bass habitat and the lakes and rivers where white bass live and spawn.
3. Student will demonstrate the ability to support their opinion with the research information they have collected.
Students will learn to ask questions to solicit information, research critical questions and write supported opinions using that information.
Vocabulary : white bass, habitat, critical elements, spawn, transfer, opinion, zebra mussel
Context for Use
Grade 5, class of at least 30, most of the research done at school in the classroom or computer lab.
Hmong charter school might be the most appropriate place for these lessons to be used. This unit could easily take a month to six weeks depending on how often classes meet. I will co-teach this unit as most of my students are ELL students and each lesson will require vocabulary clarification, how to conduct research and cite research, how to evaluate situations, how to write a letter to ask for action. This unit will be a course and it might be difficult for other not-Hmong students to be as interested and motivated to do this work.
Hmong charter school might be the most appropriate place for these lessons to be used. This unit could easily take a month to six weeks depending on how often classes meet. I will co-teach this unit as most of my students are ELL students and each lesson will require vocabulary clarification, how to conduct research and cite research, how to evaluate situations, how to write a letter to ask for action. This unit will be a course and it might be difficult for other not-Hmong students to be as interested and motivated to do this work.
Description and Teaching Materials
Complete the KWHL chart with the topic Hmong fishing.
Read and share thoughts about the article A TASTE OF HOME.
Form questions about why the fish were moved from one lake to another.
Develop and record questions for an interview with MN DNR Conservation Community Liaison Officer Josee Cung.
Students will call the DNR Office and invite Mr. Cung to come and speak to the class.
Students will research: white bass, white bass habitat, DNR, Pleasant Lake, North oaks, Sucker Lake, Vadnais Heights, zebra mussels
ELL Lessons
How to research stuff on the internet
How to form questions and record answers in an interview
How to write an informed letter of concern
Read and share thoughts about the article A TASTE OF HOME.
Form questions about why the fish were moved from one lake to another.
Develop and record questions for an interview with MN DNR Conservation Community Liaison Officer Josee Cung.
Students will call the DNR Office and invite Mr. Cung to come and speak to the class.
Students will research: white bass, white bass habitat, DNR, Pleasant Lake, North oaks, Sucker Lake, Vadnais Heights, zebra mussels
ELL Lessons
How to research stuff on the internet
How to form questions and record answers in an interview
How to write an informed letter of concern
Teaching Notes and Tips
This is an original unit and i will need to see how it goes. I know that with my students and regarding their language challenges i will need to coordinate closely with my ELL coteacher.
Assessment
My 5th grade students will write a letter to the MN DNR and the Southeast Asian anglers group to express their thoughts and ideas on the transfer of white bass from one st. Paul Lake to another.
Standards
Standards Match
54211 Describe a natural system in MN in terms of it relationships among it living and nonliving parts.
54211 Describe a natural system in MN in terms of it relationships among it living and nonliving parts.