Age Group: 5–8 years old

Length: 1–2 weeks (flexible)

Culminating Experience: Family Dipnetting Trip (e.g., Kenai or Kasilof River)

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🎯 Learning Goals

• Understand the life cycle of salmon
• Learn about subsistence fishing and its cultural importance in Alaska
• Develop basic safety & respect for nature
• Connect learning through books, songs, crafts, and real-world experience

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📅 Weekly Plan

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Day 1–2: Introduction to Salmon

🗣️ Read Aloud:

• Salmon Stream by Carol Reed-Jones — beautiful illustrations & simple explanation of the salmon life cycle.
• A Salmon for Simon by Betty Waterton — a gentle story about a boy and a salmon, great for empathy and respect for wildlife.

🎨 Craft:

• Create a Salmon Life Cycle Wheel (printable craft — draw or print the egg, fry, smolt, adult stages).
• Color in salmon species coloring pages (Chinook, Sockeye).

🎶 Song:

• Teach a simple salmon life cycle song. Example: “The Salmon Song” by Nancy Stewart.

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Day 3–4: Learn About Dipnetting & Alaskan Traditions

📚 Story Time:

• The Salmon Princess by Mindy Dwyer
• Talk about how families dipnet in summer for food. Show photos of families on the Kenai or Kasilof River.

🎧 Listen:

• Podcast: Sally Salmon by Deep Blue Sea

📝 Activity:

• Make a Dipnetting Safety Checklist together (life jackets, gloves, waders, sun hat, water).
• Play Molly of Denali Fishing game online.

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Day 5–6: Respect for Nature & Harvest

📚 Discuss:

• Why do we only take what we need?
• What happens if too many salmon are caught?

🖍️ Printable:

• “I Promise to Respect Nature” coloring pledge — kids sign it and decorate.

🧩 Activity:

• Play pretend “dipnetting” in the backyard with nets & paper fish.

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Day 7–8: Prepare for the Trip

🧺 Pack Together:

• Kids help gather gear: nets, gloves, boots, extra clothes, snacks.
• Talk about river safety: watch Alaska State Parks Kids Boating Safety video (YouTube).

🧩 Fun Worksheet:

• “What Do Salmon Eat?” cut-and-paste activity.

🗣️ Practice:

• Role-play how to hold the net safely with an adult.

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🎉 Culminating Experience: Family Dipnetting Day

• Go to a designated dipnetting site (e.g., Kenai River in July).
• Wear safety gear, check tides, talk about currents.
• Let kids help carry the net, spot fish, count how many you catch (if regulations allow).
• Celebrate with a simple riverside picnic.
• Take photos to make a “My Dipnetting Adventure” scrapbook when you return.

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🖨️ Printable Pack Suggestions

✅ Salmon Life Cycle Wheel
✅ Species coloring pages (Sockeye, Chinook, Coho)
✅ Safety Checklist
✅ Respect Pledge Poster
✅ “What Do Salmon Eat?” cut-and-paste
✅ “My Dipnetting Adventure” scrapbook pages

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📺 Relevant Shows

• Molly of Denali (PBS Kids) — Molly of Denali, First Fish
• Wild Kratts: Salmon Run — explains migration & predators in kid-friendly style.

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📚 Extra Book Recommendations

• Salmon: Swimming for Survival by Rowena Rae (great visuals)

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✅ Wrap-Up Reflection

• When you get home, help kids draw their favorite memory.
• Talk about what they learned about salmon, the river, and helping feed their family.