Biologists teach children 'sense of wonder'

LJMU has teamed up with the Mersey Rivers Trust and schools to encourage youngsters to care more about wild animals.

The Trout in the Classroom Project, involving five schools across Merseyside, sees pupils ‘rear’ fish from recently hatched eggs through to release into the wild.

The project teaches children about climate change, habitat loss and the human impacts on river quality – the cause of a series of recent public outcries.

But its real power is giving youngsters ‘guardianship’ over the fish, says Dr Monica McCard, of LJMU's School of Biological and Environmental Sciences, leading the project.

Emotional connection

“Seeing eggs develop into living fish creates an emotional connection where students don’t just learn about fish, they care about them,” she said.

“This is about empathy and a feeling of responsibility for how their fish fare. And they learn about consistency and attention, mirroring real scientific practice.”

Three schools in the Wirral and two in Liverpool, including Everton Free, took receipt last week of eggs from a fish farm in Lockerbie and the children will care for them until release in the River Bollin in mid-February.

The arrival of the eggs certainly captured the imagination of the lucky 11-year-olds at Parkgate School, Neston.

Sense of wonder

Deputy Head Jazmin Rashid, said: “Each morning has become a moment of great excitement, as the children check how much the trout have grown overnight. Their daily observations have encouraged curiosity, careful scientific thinking and a real sense of wonder."

The Year 6 pupils have been learning fish anatomy, the life cycle and the river environment and two pupils - Annie and India - have taken on themselves to check the temperature, pH, nitrite, ammonia levels and even the air pump!

Dr McCard chose trout because their presence (or absence) tells us a lot about river health, as she explained: “The children learn that rivers are not just water but complex ecosystems that support life. Water quality really matters and students see directly that, If water isn’t clean and well-oxygenated, life struggles.”

Clare Bullen, Chief Executive Officer at Mersey Rivers Trust, said: “It’s a brilliant opportunity for students to engage with their local environment, and we’re excited about growing the programme even further. Monica’s leadership and the educational materials she produced have been instrumental.”