Learning/Science Fair

[EMdina]

Hi
My kids (3rd grade and 1st grade) have a learning fair next week and we signed up to do 'fishy stuff'...I thought that we would definitely do a nitrogen cycle display (and hand out flyers-explaining tank cycling- maybe we can save some fishies in the future), but I'm at a loss of what to do besides that. We'll have a full length table, access to water and electricity...I was thinking of bringing in my daughter's 5G...their school is only a minute from our house. My son thought we could do some type of diarama...but of what Help!!! Any ideas you might have would be totally appreciated! We are going to start preparing this weekend.
Thanks in advance!
Ericka

 

[Phantom Thief]

A diagram on the N cycle of course.

Like a plant, then a factory which changes it to fish food (fill the blanks for me ) then getting eaten by fish, then the de-nitrifying bacteria and so on and so on.

P.T.

 

[Bol]

First, I'd offer a possible warning. It may not be a good idea to try to transfer a tank full of water (especially if it's made of glass), if that's what are planning. The flexing of the tank during movement could very well cause it to break.

Ideas for 6-8 year-olds? hmm...

* Explain the importance of "territory", including the benefits of "hiding spaces"?

* Display different feeding habits? Herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, and how some fish are more "hunters", and others are "scavangers"?

* Show (not necessarily in a tank) "happy fish/sad fish" conditions. Clean water, lots of hiding places, good food variety, buddies for shoaling fish, brightly colored fish, etc. on the happy side, and lonely fish, cramped and/or crowded fish, "pale" fish, bored-with-one-kind-of-food fish on the sad side (clamped fins is a good, easily noticed visual for "sad" fish).

 

[EMdina]

The tank I'd bring is a small 5G acryllic tank...I could transport it very easily...but, not sure I want the hassle of that...

[/QUOTE]* Explain the importance of "territory", including the benefits of "hiding spaces"?

* Display different feeding habits? Herbivores, omnivores, carnivores, and how some fish are more "hunters", and others are "scavangers"?

* Show (not necessarily in a tank) "happy fish/sad fish" conditions. Clean water, lots of hiding places, good food variety, buddies for shoaling fish, brightly colored fish, etc. on the happy side, and lonely fish, cramped and/or crowded fish, "pale" fish, bored-with-one-kind-of-food fish on the sad side (clamped fins is a good, easily noticed visual for "sad" fish).

These are great ideas! Especially the last one- Sad Fish/Happy Fish....
Ericka

 

[edd_hardy]

I don't know if the tank is large enough but you could probably do a nice display on neon tetas shoaling as a defence instinct. I'm not sure on how age suitable this is though.
Edd