Oxford Area fourth-graders raise Trout in the Classroom

This year some students at Nottingham Elementary School in Oxford Area SD have the opportunity to participate in the Trout in the Classroom program, in partnership with the PA Fish and Boat Commission and the PA Council of Trout of Unlimited. The students are raising the trout from eyed eggs to fingerlings. Throughout the school year the students will learn about the lifecycle of the trout. They will also have the opportunity to learn about local waterways and ecosystems that support the life of the trout. According to an article on TownLively.com, fourth-grade teacher Scott Schaffer’s class received about 200 eggs and have been tracking their growth and monitoring tanks for temperate and water condition. Their efforts have paid off; more than 50% of the eggs have reached fingerling size – a typical survival rate is only 30%. During the fourth marking period, the students will release the fingerlings into the local watershed. For more information about the program, visit http://www.patroutintheclassroom.org.