Grade 4: Ready for Another Fin-tastic Year
After making a splash in its first year, Graland’s Trout Scouts program returned with the arrival of about 200 rainbow trout eggs at the end of October.
With Lower School Science Teacher Ms. Elise de Geus, fourth graders will raise the fish from eggs to young trout before releasing them this spring. The experience is part of “Trout in the Classroom,” a program offered in Colorado through a partnership between Colorado Trout Unlimited and Colorado Parks and Wildlife.
After the eggs arrived on campus, students photographed them to establish a final count and began watching for signs of development, including tiny black eyes forming inside. Hatching is expected to begin within two weeks of the eggs’ arrival. As the trout grow, Grade 4 will test water quality and help maintain the tank, connecting science lessons to the daily care of living animals.
To track that work, fourth graders will use designated trout journals, a new addition this year, alongside a greater focus on human impact on trout ecosystems. These lessons will continue through the spring release, connecting the conditions students maintain in the tank to the healthy habitats trout need in the wild.
Fourth graders will also have a new way to share what they are learning. Stay tuned for “Trout Chat,” a planned monthly podcast with updates on the trout’s journey!
Graland Country Day School
Graland Country Day School is a private school in Denver, Colorado, serving students in preschool, kindergarten, elementary, and middle school. Founded in Denver in 1927, Graland incorporates a rich, experiential learning approach in a traditional classroom setting, emphasizing the development of globally and socially conscious leaders who excel academically.
