Title: Chicago’s Big Fish Tale
Date: 29 Jan 2010
Grade: 10-12
Subject: Environmental Science
URL: http://www.newsy.com/videos/chicago_s_big_fish_tale
Chicago’s Big Fish Tale
December 4, 2009
Teacher Information: This video discusses the
invasive Asian carp species that is threatening to
invade Lake Michigan through Chicago’s other
waterways. The problem presented by the Asian
Carp is an excellent way to cover several of the
Arkansas environmental science frameworks,
including: describing competition in a
community, constructing and comparing food
chains and webs, and evaluating the impacts of
different points of view (governmental,
economic, and societal) on environmental
issues.
Phase
Task(s)
Time
Preparation/
Review
Review previous days’ learning on food chains and webs. Using visual
manipulatives, have students construct a food web for a lake
community. Then introduce the idea of an “invasive species.”
10 min
Review the words “food web”, “competition”, and introduce the
term “invasive species”.
Watch
As a class watch the Newsy.com video:
Chicago’s Big Fish Tale
http://www.newsy.com/videos/chicago_s_big_fish_tale
3:32min
Group Work
Returning to the food web students previously created, have
students add in the Asian carp to their web.
5 min
Chicago’s Big Fish Tale
Group Work
Discussion
In their groups, have students re-watch “Chicago’s Big Fish Tale.”
Have students brainstorm the consequences of each type of action
Chicago is considering to prevent the introduction of the Asian Carp
into Lake Michigan.
Full class discussion on topic and share ideas with the class.
Extended Learning Activities – Optional
Phase
Task(s)
Time
Math Correlation
Have students create a poll on the options Chicago
is considering in regards to the Asian Carp.
Students will poll other students and create a
graph to express their results.
Have students use the Invasive Species
Information Center website below to research a
plant or animal species that is Invasive in Arkansas.
Students will research the options that Chicago is
considering in regards to the Asian Carp, and
report on their opinion of which solution Chicago
should choose.
Choose one of the sources in this webcast, find the
article or newscast in its entirety, and report back
to the class a summary of their findings.
varies
Research
Research
Report
Chicago’s Big Fish Tale
varies
varies
varies
15 min
5 min
Looking for related resources? Check out…
US Department of Agriculture Invasive Species Information Center
The invasive Asian Carp has been detected past the electric barrier on the Chicago Ship and Sanitary Canal, just 6
miles upstream of Lake Michigan. This is nearly 20 miles closer than previous tests had shown.
http://www.invasivespeciesinfo.gov/
United States Environmental Protection Agency
Asian carp have been found in the Illinois River, which connects the Mississippi River to Lake Michigan. Due to their
large size and rapid rate of reproduction, these fish could pose a significant risk to the Great Lakes Ecosystem.
http://www.epa.gov/glnpo/invasive/asiancarp/
Chicago Tribune
Wait, someone wants to crimp a world engineering marvel that made Chicago what it is because some fat, ugly
carp are swimming in it?
http://www.chicagotribune.com/news/opinion/chi-oped1208byrnedec08,0,7604635.column
Los Angeles Times
The fight to keep invasive Asian carp out of the Great Lakes reached the U.S. Supreme Court on Monday, as
Michigan's attorney general filed a lawsuit seeking closure of two shipping locks near Chicago.
http://articles.latimes.com/2009/dec/22/nation/la-na-asian-carp22-2009dec22
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Chicago’s Big Fish Tale