1. Lesson Title: Life Cycle Mobile
Class: KS2 Topic: Salmon Life Cycle Time Allocation: 1hour (may be
split over a few lessons
Learning Intentions
Demonstrate knowledge of the salmon
life cycle.
Success Criteria
Follow instructions and use knowledge
to devise a mobile representation of the
salmon life cycle.
Key Vocabulary
Egg
Alevin
Adult
Spawning Adult
Fry
Smolt
Predator
Threat
Journey
Introduction
Watch http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=0oZTgBIJ_CM to recap on stages of the life cycle
Resources
• Hangers
• paper
• salt dough
• acrylic paints
• string or light-weight
wire
• newsprint or scratch
paper
• glue
• staples
• tempera paints
Development (Activity)
This activity will work best if set up at different stations i.e. children move round the room making
a different part of the cycle at each station, by the end of the process they will have made each
stage. This activity may need a follow up lesson e.g. to paint the salt dough eggs.
1. To make the eggs, make small balls with salt dough, let them dry out and paint them pink
or red. Glue the eggs together into one clump.
2. To make the alevins, roll the clay, then shape a yolk sac. Again let them dry out before
painting them.
3. Both the Fry and smolt stages are also made with salt dough.
4. Pupils can create the adult salmon, and spawners by tracing a picture onto paper. Make
two outlines for each fish, paint them, then glue or staple the two sides together before
stuffing them.
5. Hangers may be bent into a circle (advisable for the teacher to complete this part) or
stretched into a straight line. Hang the eggs and fish from the coat hanger with string.
Key Questions
As the students are creating discuss:
the reasons for the parr marks (help fry to
blend into its environment)
the silver colour of the smolt (protective
colouring for a different environment

2. Plenary
Select pupils at random to present their mobiles to the rest of the class. The whole class should
try and follow each of the life cycles
Differentiation
Pupils should be offered additional support where
required.