- Designed for the NYC and NYC Watersheds Trout in the Classroom program
- Made possible with funds from the Catskill Watershed Corporation in partnership with New York City Department of Environmental Protection
- Conceived and written by Nathan Affield and Suzanna Sellars at Brooklyn’s Green School.
Objective: #
To build numeracy as well as algebraic and proportional reasoning by using manipulatives, experimentation and investigation to model real life sitations, namely estimating the population of fish in a body of water.
Background: #
Water in New York City comes from the Delaware, Catskills, and Croton Watersheds. It falls in the form of precipitation and follows the streams to the man-made reservoirs and controlled lakes. From there it is transported to the city through aqueducts into water tunnels, mainly by the force of gravity. It is then brought to homes, schools and businesses in New York City through water mains and pipes. The streams and reservoirs which are part of this system are habitat for thousands of brook and brown trout. These species reflect the well being of our watershed streams and reservoirs.
Many fishery managers use mark-and-capture techniques as well as proportional reasoning to track fish populations. These techniques help develop models of flux over time and help scientists understand the well-being of a species and the environment they inhabit.
Materials: #
- Handout: How Many Brown Trout Are in Cross River Reservoir?
- Two colors of beans to model the fish population — 1 bag red beans, 3 bags white beans — mixed together in a bowl
Procedure: #
- Divide red and white beans among 10 containers
- Give one container to each group
- Have students read the hand-out and follow instructions with their group.
Wrap-Up: #
Provide time for groups to discuss the reservoirs and trout species that live in them.
