Family and Homeschool Activities: Fish

These family and homeschool activities are designed to complement the Fish topic on BrainPOP Jr.

Scales

Many species of fish are covered in scales. There are several different types of scales and they vary in pattern and color. Study fish scales with your child. You can research photos on the Internet or go to an aquarium, pet store, or even a fish market to observe different fish scales. How are they alike? How are they different? Why might some fish have gray or light-colored scales? Your child may want to bring a notebook or a camera to take notes, draw pictures, or take photos. Analyze the scales together.

Fish Food Chain

Remind your child that fish are part of many different food chains. You may want to watch the Food Chain movie for review. Then have your child research to come up with a food chain that involves different species of fish. For example, your child may start with plankton, which are consumed by anchovy, which in turn are consumed by bluefin tuna. Larger predators such as sharks feed on the bluefin tuna. Encourage your child to draw pictures and write descriptions to accompany his or her food chain. What might happen if the bluefin tuna became endangered? Discuss with your child.