- Materials
- a glass or clear plastic bowl or tank that has a cover
- water
- small stones or gravel
- at least two small fish
- at least two small aquatic plants (any plant that grows
well in water)
- fish food
- natural shells or small clay pots
- Procedure
- Place the stones on the bottom of the tank.
- Weight the shells (or clay pots) by putting a few stones
inside them.
- "Plant" the aquatic plants by securing their bottoms in
the stones.
- Fill the tank nearly to the top with water.
- Carefully introduce the fish to their new habitat! Be
sure to watch their behavior.
- Cover the tank. Make sure it is near a source of light.
- Each day, keep a log of observations.
- Three times a week, add a flake of fish food for each
fish and observe their behavior.
- Conclusions
- Continue observing your aquarium for at least two weeks.
Emphasize that ecosystems grow and change over time. To
notice growth and changes, you'll need at least two weeks.
- Discuss how the fish survived (or, if necessary, didn't
survive) in the covered tank.
- Extension Ideas
- Consider adding more varieties of fish or snails to the
aquarium.
- Consider placing the aquarium in a dark closet.
Emphasize the aquatic ecosystems at the bottom of the ocean.
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