Goals:

1. Students will be exposed to several methods of fishing that the people of the Caribbean use.

2. Students will gain a better understanding of how people of the Caribbean make their living by using the sea and just how important it is to their survival.

3. Complete a short essay that addresses the methods of fishing we will talk about.

Time:

Two hours for completion.

Resources\Materials:

Seine (fishing net), drop nets, bamboo poles (fishing rods), spears, and our hands.

Procedure:

1. Introduce the topic of fishing the Caribbean.

2. Have the students build a concept map that outlines the many ways people of the "World" fish.

3. Discuss each method of fishing with the students. Discuss, in depth, the methods used in the Caribbean. Methods include:
 

A. Seine: A net with two poles used for capturing fish near shore in shallow water.

B. Drop nets: Nets which are laid down in a circular manner and thenpulled in a little at a time slowly decreasing the diameter of the circle until all the net is pulled back in.

C. Bamboo poles: Crude type of fishing pole used to catch fish. Has string and hook for catching fish.

D. Spears: Usually small hand held spears which have a small rope at one end that is wrapped around the wrist so it is easily recovered. Used by fisherman who dive for fish and spear them while they are under water.

E. Hands: Many fisherman in the Caribbean use their hands in association with a fishing net to capture fish. In addition, fisherman use their hands to capture lobster and other creatures from the sea.

Note: -Use geometry to describe shapes of tools and the use of the tools. For example, when you put down a drop net, you put it down in a circle.
 

4. Take the students to the nearest body of water (such as a school pond, local river, or local lake) and allow them to gain experience with a fishing rod.

5. After the students are done fishing, bring them back to the class for a brief discussion reflecting on the activity.

6. Assign homework. Their homework is a short essay that discusses what fishing tools were discussed in class, how are they used, and which tool they would like to try to use in the future and why.

Assessment:

Students will be assessed on their essay they will turn in on the following school day. Rubric below for assessment purposes.

Essay requirements:



4 Includes in essay all the components outlined in procedure, is clear and concise, and is accompanied by illustrations.

3 Includes in essay all the components outlined in procedure and is additionally clear and concise.

2 Includes in essay all the components outlined in procedure, however, is not completely clear and concise.

1 Includes in essay most of the components listed in the procedure, however, is not clear and concise.


Sentence structure:



4 Student writes in complete and accurate sentences and makes no grammatical errors.

3 Student writes in complete sentences and makes few grammatical errors.

2 Students writes in complete sentences but makes many grammatical errors.

1 Student writes in fragments and makes grammatical errors.

Curricular Strands:

English - writing short essay

Math - geometric concepts with the tools

Cooperative learning - fishing with others and building concept map

Possible Extensions:

Charter a boat and go fishing on a large lake. Build a school pond that can be used for fishing in the future. Invent new ways of fishing or fishing devices. Calculate how many fish would a person need to catch each day to feed himself/herself.

Carribean Unit - written by Trina Collins, Richard Wheeler, & Daniel Shimek

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