Whether from the grocery store, a nearby pond, an ocean, or river, a real fish can provide a multisensory experience beyond compare. Scales, fins, gills, the fishy smell—you can’t get that from a plastic fish. Handling a fish with food-service gloves, you can demonstrate scientific procedures: observing, questioning, and hypothesizing. So much learning! Does it have teeth? Does it have a tongue? Can it open its mouth? Where does it breathe? How does it feel? When not in use, you can store your fish in the refrigerator; a fresh fish can last up to two days for rich, firsthand curriculum.
In loving memory of Gryphon House author Leanne Grace, MEd, we are sharing pieces of her inspirational writing every Wednesday. Leanne was the director of professional development at Hildebrandt Learning Centers and a lifelong advocate for early childhood education. She inspired the early childhood community to prepare children as lifelong learners with her ability to find the extraordinary in the ordinary. One person can make a difference, and Leanne did just that. She will be sorely missed.
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