Fourth-Graders Get 'Lake' In ClassLEESBURG - The simple act of putting an aquarium in a classroom is teaching area fourth-graders lessons in not only lake ecosystems but broader lessons like responsibility.
For five classrooms this year, Kosciusko Lake and Streams put an aquarium in with local aquatic organisms.
The students learn about how to take care of local lakes by taking care of their "mini lake" in the classroom.
At Leesburg Elementary Wednesday afternoon, Anna Burke, program manager for KLAS, was on hand to give Megan Davis' fourth-grade class a few books on freshwater ecology.
Earlier in the year, KLAS intern Matt Shively put the aquarium in the classroom and taught the kids how to maintain it.
Burke was there Wednesday to check on Leesburg's mini lake and provide books to the class and see what the kids have learned.
"Teachers have told us that the students were so filled with curiosity about the aquarium and asking so many questions that after awhile the teachers couldn't answer them," said Burke. "That is why we want to start building a library to accompany the aquariums, so the students can have references relating to water and freshwater habitats and animals."
The students then took a couple of minutes to write thank-you cards to Biomet for being the classroom's sponsor. Local companies sponsored the five "mini-lakes" in classrooms, allowing the aquarium.
The other schools that have aquariums this year are North Webster, Claypool, Pierceton and Harrison.
Brenspeed, Louis Dreyfus, Paragon Medical and Zimmer also are serving as sponsors this year.
Leesburg student Jose Leyva was active in a question-and-answer session with Burke Wednesday afternoon.
"I'm thanking them for giving us the fish," said Levya. "It's been fun to watch the fish and seeing them live with each other."
Davis' class has two captains, an observation team as well as a research team. There are a group of students who are also in charge of feeding the fish in the aquarium.
One of Davis' students said it felt like the fish have become part of the classroom.
Davis said she loves having the aquarium in the classroom and the lesson plans that come from it.
"With the Indiana state standards as they are for fourth-graders," said Davis, "it seemed like a no-brainer."
This program, as well as other K-12 programs provided by KLAS, are made possible by The Dekko Foundation and Kosciusko County Community Foundation.
For more information on classroom sponsorship, call Burke at 574-372-5100, Ext. 6446.
