Fish in the Classroom Project Expands
Elementary school teachers in Chicago dipped their toes into the world of aquatics education in July, taking part in a daylong Fish in the Classroom seminar designed to help them create aquatics-related lessons for their students.
Fifty-two elementary school teachers took part in the session at the world-famous Shedd Aquarium. The first Fish in the Classroom training session offered outside Florida, it was co-hosted by The Pet Care Trust (Bel Air, Md.) and the Big Shoulders Fund, a Catholic charity that helps Chicago’s inner-city children.
Classroom aquariums were donated to the Big Shoulders Fund at the end of the day, and the teachers “could not have been happier,” according to Thomas Zbierski, director of school relations for Big Shoulders. “Not only did the presenters inspire the participants, but each and every one of them was touched by your generous support … and fish everywhere are delighted that they will soon be in the classrooms of our schools,” Zbierski said.
The 93 schools supported by Big Shoulders are the poorest and oldest Catholic schools in the Archdiocese of Chicago: More than half their students come from families living at or below the poverty level.
Created by The Pet Care Trust and the Florida Aquarium (Tampa, Fla.), Fish in the Classroom aims to educate and enhance the experiences of grade-school children through fish keeping. [October 2009 PET AGE]
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