1. Lesson Title: Exploring the Salmon life cycle
Class: KS2 Topic: Salmon Life Cycle Time Allocation: 30 mins
Learning Intentions
Identify Key stages of Salmon life cycle
Appreciate that salmon migrate as
part of their life cycle.
Identify factors affecting the life cycle
of the salmon
Success Criteria
Recall stages of the life cycle
Demonstrate appreciation of threats faced by
salmon
Key Vocabulary
Egg
Alevin
Fry
Smolt
Adult
Spawning Adult
Predator
Threat
Journey
Introduction
Recap stages of life cycle
Work together to create course reinacting journey of salmon as they move through each
stage of life cycle
Gravel
Predators
Food
Fishermen
Resources
Work with your class to devise resources suitable
for reinactment e.g.
• cones for marking boundaries
• tires
benches
• net
cardboard box to represent boats
Bibs/ costumes to represent each group
• playing field/ assembly hall
Development (Activity)
Choose at least two students to be predatory wildlife (bears, eagles, minks, etc.) These predators can capture
salmon in the upstream or downstream portion of the playing field. (once caught the pupils must leave the
game)
•Choose at least two students to be humans in fishing boats catching salmon in the open ocean. The students in
the fishing boats must keep one foot in a cardboard box to reduce their speed and manoeuvrability. They also
hold a piece of net.
The remaining students are salmon and try to make their way through the course
Begin the activity with all the salmon in the spawning ground. The salmon then start their journey downstream.
The first major hazard is the beaver dam. The salmon must hop through the tires. Once past the beaver dam,
the salmon must get past the predatory wildlife. The predators below the beaver dam must catch the salmon
with both hands. You will want to demonstrate a proper tag while explaining the rules.
Once in the open ocean, the salmon can be caught by fishing boats. The salmon must
Key Questions
What stages do the salmon go through in
their life cycle?
Where does each stage take place?
What is a predator?
What threats do salmon face?

2. move back and forth across the ocean area in order to gather three tokens. The year tokens
can only be picked up one token at a time on each crossing. Remember, the salmon must
cross the entire open ocean area to get a token. Each token represents one year of growth.
This limiting factor also creates a more realistic survival ratio in the population before the
salmon begin the return migration upstream.Once three year tokens are gathered, the migrating salmon can
begin upstream.
Plenary
Examination of results
How did it feel to be a salmon/predator/fisherman when….
How many salmon survived?
What was the biggest threat to the salmon
Compare with real local figures
Differentiation
This is a whole class activity when dividing the
class put in groups of mixed ability
Extension
Research local statistics on salmon survival rates and threats to salmon
Other Notes