The purpose of this grant is to continue to implement the previously funded interactive aquatic tanks that have been set up in our 4th grade classroom. The aquatic tanks in our classroom require upkeep and maintenance to support. This includes tank maintenance (filters, filter components, heaters, gravel, rock, lights, plants, etc.) and fish food.
These interactive tanks provide students with an opportunity to become fully immersed in the 4th grade next generation science standards (4-LS1-1 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes, 4-LS1-2 From Molecules to Organisms: Structures and Processes and 4-PS3-2 Energy). This real life science application allows students to have a "laboratory" setting in their classroom. Students...
1) learn how to set up a model of an aquatic ecosystem to see how plants, animals and their environment interact. This also includes taking the temperature of the tank, checking the pH level, changing the filters, conducting water changes, etc.
2) learn how the internal and external structures of plants and animals function to support survival, growth, behavior, and reproduction.
3) learn how to record data on how animals receive different types of information through their senses, process the information in their brain, and respond to the information in different ways.
Additional SEL Benefits:
Success of this grant is evident through student engagement in our 4th grade classroom and their mastery of these 4th grade science standards. 4th grade students are able to perform real science through water monitoring, biodiversity observations (internal/ external structures, senses, behavior responses, etc.), food intake data, growth/size data, reproduction monitoring, etc. Taking care of an aquatic ecosystem and collecting data on the animals, plants and habitat is a unique opportunity that will generate excitement and appreciation for science. In addition, the tanks provide a unique learning opportunity for students to engage with a diverse aquatic ecosystem, which includes different plants and animals that are not native to our Tahoe area.
Additionally, these aquatic interactive tanks have been used for social emotional learning and self regulation across grade levels at Tahoe Lake Elementary. Students use the tanks as an earn/incentive for their behaviors throughout the school day, to help with testing anxiety, to regulate their bodies by taking a calming break, to participate in academic discourse/peer collaboration at lunch/recess time, etc.
This grant will be used over the course of the 2025-2026 school year and for many school years after. I teach 4th grade at Tahoe Lake Elementary School and this grant will benefit all 4th grade students (about 60 students), as well as other students at TLE each year. Having interactive aquatic tanks will allow all 4th grade students to become fully immersed in the real life application of the 4th grade science standards, specifically pertaining to the "Structure, Function, and Info. Processing of Plants and Animals" unit of study. This will provide hands-on and real-world learning opportunities for students to connect with aquatic ecosystems.
Yes - I can share this grant with my grade level teammates and students, as well as other students at TLE.
In the past, 4th grade teachers and science teachers have each taken a science unit of study, and 4th grade students have "deployed" to the various teachers for each science unit (i.e. Structure/Function/Info. Processing of Plants and Animals, Waves and Information, History of Planet Earth, and Energy). I can be the 4th grade teacher responsible for the "Structure/Function/Info. Processing of Plants and Animals" science unit, and 4th graders can rotate to me for this unit of study.
I also collaborate with other teachers and paraprofessionals in the building to support any students who might SEL support with these interactive aquatic tanks.
No- not yet.
I have my degree in Biology with a Marine Concentration from the University of Rhode Island, and I have had 6 plus years of experience working at the Long Island Aquarium and Exhibition Center. I have a plethora of knowledge in aquatic ecosystems and marine science, and I really want to bring this marine science education to Tahoe Lake Elementary School for all students to learn about :)
A major unexpected use for these aquatic interactive tanks have been for social emotional learning and self regulation. I was previously a special education teacher in TTUSD, and I have seen a great benefit in having these tanks in a general education classroom as well to help ALL young learners throughout the school day. Students from all grade levels at Tahoe lake Elementary have accessed these tanks for various reasons that include regulating their bodies by taking a calming break, peer collaboration at lunch/recess time, as an earn/incentive for behaviors in school, to help with testing anxiety, etc.