This document outlines a 5-lesson salmon unit for high school students. Lesson 1 involves salmon anatomy and dissection. Lesson 2 covers salmon life history and species. Lesson 3 discusses salmon habitat and watershed ecology. Lesson 4 focuses on the salmon fishery on the Kenai River. Lesson 5 has students develop an outreach project on salmon dissection for a community event. The unit aims to educate students on salmon biology and importance to Alaska through hands-on lessons and community engagement.

1. Salmon Make
the Kenai Go
‘Round
By: Kara Abel
Place-Based Unit
Presentation

2. Unit Objectives
 To explore the salmonid species through a
study of anatomy, life history, and impact
to people.
 To deepen students understanding of the
fishery on the Kenai and incorporate
students in community outreach

3. Standards
C: Concepts of Life Science
A student should understand and be able to apply the
concepts, models, theories, facts, evidence, systems, and
processes of life science.
A student who meets the content standard should:
 Develop an understanding of how science explains changes
in life forms over time, including genetics, heredity, the
process of natural selection, and biological evolution;
 Develop an understanding of the structure, function,
behavior, development, life cycles, and diversity of living
organisms; and
 Develop an understanding that all organisms are linked to
each other and their physical environments through the
transfer and transformation of matter and energy.

4. The Lessons – an overview
 Lesson 1 : Salmon Anatomy & Salmon
Dissection

 Lesson 2: Salmon Life History & Salmon
Species
 Lesson 3: Salmon Habitat & Watershed
Ecology
 Lesson 4: Salmon and Our Community
 Lesson 5: Preparing Presentations for
Community

5. Lesson 1 – Salmon Dissection
 Hands – on
opportunity to
explore salmon
anatomy
 Purpose is to
identify external &
internal structure
form & function

6. Lesson Objective
After students complete a hands on
dissection in pairs they will be able to
 Identify anatomy of a salmon
 Describe the function of key structures and
features
To 80% accuracy.

7. The Details
 2 day lesson
 Lecture
 Dissection Lab – student led
 Utilizing ADF&G Dissection Packet – great
resource!
 Laboratory practical at end of unit

8. Images from
ADF&G
Dissection
packet

9. Lesson 2 – Life History
Purpose is to
introduce salmon
species and discuss
salmon life cycle.
Also discuss
anadromous life style
“I Will Survive” – Salmon Life Cycle

10. Lesson Objective
After students participate in a mini lecture
and discussion about salmonid species and
life history they will be able to
 Identify the five species of Pacific salmonids
 Identify the stages of a salmon’s life cycle
 Correctly define anadromous and
understand the physiological adaptations
required for this life style
To 100% accuracy.

11. The Details
 Introduce with parody video
 Discuss life cycle stages
 Watch Salmon Life Cycle video
 Discuss salmon species and identification
 Assessment: iClicker quiz (Smart response)

12. Lesson 3 – The Watershed
 Habitat and
watershed ecology
 Utilizing ADF&G
power point

13. Lesson Objective
After students complete the power point
lesson they will be able to
 Define a watershed
 Discuss the seasonal changes in a watershed
and how they impact salmon
 Identify how each different species utilizes the
watershed
 Identify healthy and unhealthy characteristics
of a watershed
To 75% accuracy.

14. The Details
 Alaska Department of Fish & Game power
point presentation
 Expanding upon habitat utilization by salmon
species
 Healthy vs. unhealthy watersheds
 Kenai Watershed
 Assessment: end of unit test, hand in
notes, presentations

15. Screenshots
from ADF&G
power point

16. Lesson 4 – Kenai River Salmon
 Salmon fishery on
the Kenai
 ADF&G counts on
the Kenai
 Areas of concern
on the Kenai
concerning the fish

17. Lesson Objective
After students listen to the guest lecture and
discussion of the Kenai River fisheries they
will be able to
 Correctly identify methods used to measure
fish abundance
 Explain how the counts are used to impact
management decisions
 Identify the types of fish users represented on
the Kenai
To 80% accuracy.

18. The Details
 Guest lecture from ADF&G about sonar
and measuring fish abundance
 Viewing the sonar equipment
 Discussion of types of fishing on the Kenai
 Concerns facing the Kenai River fishery
 Assessment: end of unit exam, notes
handed in

19. Images from
ADF&G
Sonar Project

20. Lesson 5 – Kenai River Festival or
Nikiski Days or Classroom Visit
 Purpose of this
lesson is to take
what students
have learned and
turn it into a
community
outreach project
 Connect with one
of the mentioned
community places
to collaborate with
and have high
school student
teach the
dissection lesson

21. Lesson Objective
After students participate in the discussion
they will be able to
 Design an age-appropriate demonstration of
a salmon dissection
To 100% accuracy.

22. The Details
 3 days to work on presentation
 Time will be spent emphasizing what to
include and what not to include
 Students will present at a given
community location

23. Conclusion
 End of unit test (oh boy!)
 Students participating in community
 A better and deeper understanding of
one of their community’s essential
resources