Rationale
Most people do not believe that little children can do much more than play a game on a computer.  Their concept of little children (ages 3 - 8 ) on the computer let alone the internet is "scary".  "How do you like your fish?" is an interactive aquarium that allows the children to use the mouse to put together an aquarium.  They can use the mouse to pick the kinds of fish they want , design the environment they want their fish to live in, and the final outcome is to actually see their work.  Unlike many of the video game on the market, these fish do not search and kill.  There are no enemies to destroy and no damsels to save.  They are viewed in an environment that promotes observation  of the colors, shapes and sizes of the different fish they chooses as well as further information about each fish (with the help of an adult)  While this lesson is "simple", to a child who has little or no internet skills,  it is a golden door that can open into a whole new world of information.
 
 
  Goals & Objectives  (As stated in the Chicago Academic Standards & Frameworks for
                                                                                                                       the Chicago Board of Education)
Language Arts
state goal 1  also...social studies, state goal 16, CAS C.  CFS 1;
CAS D.
CFS 1 & 2; the children will be able to deliver an oral presentations about their aquarium and  illustrate (in their own way) their aquarium.
state goal 2
CAS A.
CFS 1; the children will be able to distinguish reality from make-believe
state goal 4
CAS A.
CFS 1; the children will be able to follow one and two step oral directions (older kids can follow three or more)
CAS B.
CFS 1 & 2;  the children will be able to express their ideas clearly (appropriate for their age) and in complete sentences.
CAS C.
CFS 1; the children will be able to dictate a story about their aquarium
state goal 5
CAS A.
CFS 2  the children will learn that they can use the internet to examine pictures and gain /increase their knowledge of a particular subject.

Mathematics
state goal 6
CAS A.
CFS 3;  the children will represent numbers using physical models (i.e.. the # of fish they choose)
state goal 8
CAS A.
CFS 1; the children will be able to sort fish by common attributes (e.g. color, shape, and size)
state goal 9 also...    social studies: state goal 17: CAS A. CFS 1
CAS B.
CFS 1; the children will be able to respond to and give directions about location such as in front of, by, right, left, above, under (where they want the different items to be placed in their aquarium)

With assistance:
(older children will need little or no assistance depending on their skills)

• the child will be able to turn the computer on
• launch netscape
• type in the URL in the proper location
• read the names of the fish:

• the child will be able to use the mouse to choose their aquarium, fish and materials to accent their aquarium
• count out how many of each item they want
• point out differences and likeness between different fish
• place items in the aquarium using location skills
• illustrate their aquarium using any art medium
• give an oral presentation about their aquarium using their illustration
• dictate a story they created about their aquarium

Audience & Pre-Requisites 
"How do you like your fish" is geared to the 1st. time or the "I'm don't know what to do" users.  The target age group is  3-8 but any one  (with web access) can learn from this lesson.  This lesson can also be used as an activity for families with web access in their home.

The subject matter is simple, yet fun and intriguing.  The user will be engaged in using some basic skills of the computer (turn on, get to the browse, re-type the URL in the proper location, use of mouse to click on the object they want), while learning about different types of fish, and their compatibility in the aquarium.  Basically , they are setting up an aquarium.  The children will get to see how the fish actually look, learn more facts about that particular fish, choose how big they want their tank, see the suggested foods and items for their tank and then actually see what their aquarium might look like.
 
 
 
 
 
 
 

  Instructional Plan

• The students will access the student page to this web site and click on the link.
• This will thrust the student into "Tetra Aquarium - Netscape".
• Click on "Virtual Aquarium" and then click on "next"
• On "select an Environment", click on " tropical  fish" or "gold fish".
• From there,  select an " Aquascape", a habitat for the fish.
• Select one of four different experience levels (for now, we're all beginners!)
• At this point, decide how big the tank should be.  (the bigger the tank, the more fish you can choose)
• Once the tank size is chosen, click on a size.  This will lead to... choosing fish.
• Here is where the fun really begins... different facts about the chosen fish can now be viewed; or just choose them by name and view them in the tank.   (younger children will need assistance with the fish names)
• Continue to complete each page and click the mouse on "next"  (by now the children will have "next" down to an art form!
• Choose to see the Aquarium with the fish moving or without the fish moving.
• Clicking to see the fish move will also allow the student to choose the placement of the tank decorations
• Clicking to see the fish "still" will allow the computer to do the decorating

• Enjoy your Virtual Aquarium!

  Materials
Of course you need a computer with web access!
Additional materials should include...
tons of paper (different sizes and colors)
markers
crayons
paint
 The teacher should be prepared to take dictation about the different Aquariums the children create
Older children can construct a diorama of their Aquarium. (they will need glue, tape, various size shoe boxes)
 

   Assessment  & Evaluation   

Individual assessment and evaluation is up to the teacher but here are some suggestions...
oral presentation
illustrations
dictated stories
older children...diorama of their Aquarium
 

back to lesson page

Last update: July 19,2000