Learning Resources

Salmon in the Schools - Seattle (SIS-Seattle) is more than just raising salmon. It is also a learning opportunity for students to develop a strong ethic of stewardship and understand the interplay of stormwater systems and the broader ecosystem. 

Throughout the school year, students explore key concepts including: 

  • Salmon biology, life cycle, and species
  • Human-environment relationships and local ecology
  • Water quality and the impacts of stormwater pollution
  • The cultural, ecological, and economic significance of salmon
  • Tribal stewardship and Indigenous connections to salmon in the Pacific Northwest 

Student artwork of salmon eggs and alevin.

Lesson Plans & Curriculum

Salmon in the Schools - Seattle has learning resources to help teachers connect student learning with the exciting changes happening in your salmon tank. These outlines include suggested grade levels and Next Generation Science Standards (NGSS) and can be adapted to fit the needs of multiple ages. They feature cross-curricular connections to integrate salmon instruction into your existing art, language arts, math, social studies and science curriculum.

Since Time Immemorial

Washington State Office of the Superintendent of Public Instruction hosts the John McCoy (lulilaš) Since Time Immemorial curriculum. These lessons are especially relevant to understanding the role salmon play in our history and culture:

Juvenile coho in a tank.

Involving Students in Tank Care

There are lots of ways to involve students in taking care of the tank and salmon!  Tailor student involvement to your students’ interests and abilities, and curriculum you’re teaching. There are several opportunities to practice math skills, in addition to working as part of a team and communication. Here are some places to start:

  • Feeding fry – K and older
  • Conducting water quality tests – 3rd grade and older
  • Tracking and graphing water quality, temperature, etc. - 3rd and older
  • Helping with water changes – 4th and older
  • Predicting when salmon will hatch – 4th and older

Students caring for a tank in a classroom.

Field Trips

In addition to lesson plans, we offer two field trip opportunities to participating schools:  

  • Fall Salmon Search: Students visit Carkeek Park or Dragonfly Park in late fall to observe the return of salmon to these areas. They learn about salmon before they receive eggs.
  • Spring Salmon Release at a local site: Schools release their young salmon into their permitted waterbody. Students will get hands-on experience and participate in a learning activity.

Visit the Field Trips page for more information.

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Seattle Public Utilities (SPU) is comprised of three major direct-service providing utilities: the Water Utility, the Drainage and Wastewater Utility, and the Solid Waste Utility.