Trout in the classroom
Seventh-graders Ian Rarick and Brynn Barachie demonstrate how they test the water in the “Trout in the Classroom” fish tank.
Seventh-grader Brynn Barachie demonstrate how they test the water in the “Trout in the Classroom” fish tank.
Jim Deebel of the Pohopoco Rod and Gun Club listens to water testing results from seventh-grader Brynn Barachie.
Fran Gough of the Pohopoco Rod and Gun Club explains the science of the tank, included temperature, aeration and circulation.
ABOVE LEFT: Seventh-grade students, front, Payton Costenbader, back, Mae Marks and Ashlyn Popovich demonstrate how to use the handheld vacuum used to remove waste material. TOP RIGHT: Seventh-graders Ian Rarick and Brynn Barachie demonstrate how they test the water in the “Trout in the Classroom” fish tank. BOTTOM RIGHT: Jim Deebel of the Pohopoco Rod and Gun Club listens to water testing results from seventh-grader Brynn Barachie.
Bubbles float to the top of the tank behind the fingerling brook trout. In order to keep oxygen at the proper level the tank has proper circulation, aeration and temperature.
Brook trout fingerlings swim in a tank outside of Joseph Yescavage's life science classroom at Lehighton Middle School. The tank and assorted equipment needed were donated by the Pohopoco Rod and Gun Club.
There’s a new school in Lehighton that nobody seems to have a problem with.
Seventh-grade life science teacher Joseph Yescavage’s class has a school of around 40 brook trout in an aquarium just outside of their classroom. The aquarium and all of the related hardware was donated by the Pohopoco Rod and Gun Club.
The class started off with 350 eggs given to them by the Pennsylvania Fish and Boat Commission as part of the commission’s “Trout in the Classroom” project. When the brook trout, the only trout species native to Pennsylvania, are ready, they will be released into a local stream approved by the commission.
Fran Gough, a retired science teacher from Crestwood School District in Mountain Top and member of the Pohopoco Rod and Gun Club, has participated in similar programs at other schools.
Gough was brought in to make some tweaks to the system to get it running at the optimal level. With trout being a cold-water fish, the tank must keep a temperature around 55 degrees.
The aquarium must also have proper aeration and circulation to ensure that the fish have enough oxygen.
Students in the class are responsible for the upkeep of the tank with each having certain tasks. Ian Rarick and Brynn Barachie do the testing of the water and track and chart the results.
Mae Marks, Ashlyn Popovich and Payton Costenbader are in charge of keeping the tank clean.
