The Salmon Lifecycle

A WebQuest for 7th Grade Life Science Students

Designed by Susan Gregerson

sgreger1@earthlink.net

Introduction | Task | Process | Evaluation | Conclusion |

Introduction

This website is designed to help you investigate the mysteries of the salmon lifecycle. As a science researcher, you will explore and uncover the mysteries of these most amazing fish. You will learn terms such as spawning, redd, fry, and anadromous. You will also learn about the myth and culture surrounding the Pacific Northwest salmon.

Task

You will work in groups of two or three to solve the mystery of the salmon lifecycle. Note: Your research will be done cooperatively, but you will turn in individual worksheets. Specifically, you will answer the following questions:

  1. What is meant by anadromous?
  2. What are the names of the Pacific salmon?
  3. What are the lifecycle stages of the salmon?
  4. How long do salmon live and how big do they get?
  5. What are the hazards that salmon face in their migration?
  6. How do Native Americans regard salmon and what are some of their myths surrounding the salmon?
  7. Take the Salmon Challenge!

Process

Task 1 - Define the Word Anadromous

  1. Do a Google Search on the word "anadromous"
  2. Go to the following website and read about Pacific Salmon in Muir Woods National Park
    http://www.nps.gov/muwo/nature/fauna/salmon/glossary.htm#anadromous
  3. Write the definition of the word "anadromous."

Task 2- Name the Species of Pacific Salmon

  1. Go to the following website and read "How Many Different Salmon Are There???"
    http://www.steelheadsociety.com/Kids%20Page/how_many_salmon.htm
  2. Write a paragraph about your favorite salmon and what it is that makes this one your favorite. For example, do you like the color? Do you like the way it looks when it's in the spawning stage? Have you been fishing and caught one? Do you enjoy the taste of this particular species?
  3. Draw a picture of your favorite salmon in the spawning phase.

Task 3- Name the Lifecycle Stages of Salmon

  1. Go to the following website and read "The Salmon Lifecycle" http://www.forestsoils.org/esc110/2001Fall/project-examples/Washington%20Salmon/salmon_lifecycle.html
  2. Go to the following website and read "Chum Salmon Colors" to learn about how the Chum salmon changes colors during the spawning phase of its lifecycle.
    http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/chum/chum-9.htm
  3. Write one interesting fact about salmon lifecycle; the thing that you find most interesting.

Task 4- How Long do Salmon Live and How Big do they Get?

  1. Go to the following website and read "Chum Salmon Life History, Timeline for Life History, Growth, and Survival"http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/chum/chum-3d.htm
  2. Go to the following website and read "Age and Growth of Coho Salmon and Steelhead trout" http://www.nps.gov/muwo/nature/fauna/salmon/age.htm
  3. Go to the following website and read about the largest reported salmon and the oldest known age of salmon http://www.nefsc.noaa.gov/faq/fishfaq2d.html
  4. Write the answers to the following: What Pacific salmon species is reported as the largest? What is the reported weight? How old are Pacific salmon reported to get?

Task 4- The Magnificent Journey

  1. Go the the following website and read "The Magnificent Journey" http://www.bpa.gov/Power/pl/columbia/stories/magnificent1.htm
  2. Answer the following questions: What is a redd? How many of Onco's redd-mates made it back into the Columbia River? Name 4 hazards that migrating salmon can face (things that prey on them or cause them to perish before they reach their home river?).

Task 6- What Native American myths surround the salmon?

  1. Go to the following websites and read about myths related to salmon.
  2. "Honne Names the Salmon" http://www.wa.gov/wdfw/fish/chum/chum-2a.htm
  3. http://library.thinkquest.org/J0112303/salmonpeople.html
  4. http://college.hmco.com/history/readerscomp/naind/html/na_038000_taboos.htm
  5. Write a paragraph describing why you think Native Americans valued salmon and why they were (and are) such an important part of their cultural and spritual heritage.

Task 7- Take the Salmon Challenge!

  1. Go to the following website and take the Salmon Challenge (an interactive game)!
    http://www6.metrokc.gov/salmon/index.htm
  2. Have fun!

Evaluation

Your evaluation will be based on the following:

  • Willingness and ability to work cooperatively in your group
  • Visiting all the websites, reading the material, and answering all the questions
  • Answering the questions in complete sentences, using proper grammar and correct spelling.
  • Sharing your salmon artwork with the class.

Conclusion

Congratulations! Your team has experienced a quest for knowledge about Pacific Salmon and the salmon lifecycle. You may now share your knowledge about these wonderous fish with your classmates and families.

We all benefit by being generous with our work. Permission is hereby granted for other educators to copy this WebQuest, update or otherwise modify it, and post it elsewhere provided that the original author's name is retained along with a link back to the original URL of this WebQuest.

Author: Susan Gregerson. Last updated on August 17th, 2003.
Based on a template from The WebQuest Page