The great goldfish study

Suzie Harrison

In college it would be called Biology 101, but in the first grade

it was called the first day of science. In Megan Bartlett’s class at

El Morro Elementary School, there were definitely some scientists in

the making.

“Today we’re going to be scientists, we’ll be observing,” Bartlett

said. “Scientists notice little tiny details.”

After discussing and reviewing a drawn chart of their subject,

goldfish, the budding scientists prepared their minds with questions

as they set out in teams of four to observe a school of goldfish in a

tank.

Sitting at the table and leaning forward as close as they could to

the fish, the children were excitedly making their remarks.

“One’s looking at me,” said Sean Hampton, 6. “No, most of them are

looking at me. What’s happening?”

Avery Krafta, 6, like many of the other kids, couldn’t stop

smiling.

Pointing at one of the fish, she found a resemblance to one of her

favorite singers.

“He looks like Elvis,” Avery said. “See on the sides the black

looks like sideburns.”

Jessica Martinez, 6, noticed the fins and then noticed the fish

were breathing through their gills.

Each scientist, when their turn came, eagerly examined and

pondered the fish’s body parts, what they look like, how they differ

and what their function is.

Sean started counting on his hands to determine how many fins the

fish had.

“There’s five on each,” Sean said. “Actually there’s one small

one, so there’s six.”

He touched the tips of his fingers together with his palms apart,

making a shape of a fin and pointed out the dorsal fin.

The second group was excited to make their observations while the

rest of the class did what all good scientists do, wrote down their

observations in their science journal. They drew a goldfish,

identifying the eyes, fins and other physical attributes.

Dogen Martin, 7, was fascinated by the goldfish’s gills and how

they breathe. She imitated their mouths opening and closing.

“The thing I don’t like about fish is that you can’t touch them,”

said Jacob Tompkins, 6.

* SUZIE HARRISON is a reporter for the Laguna Beach Coastline

Pilot. She may be reached at 494-4321.