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In Stephanie Mitchell’s classroom at Lamberton Middle School, the science lesson looks a lot like art class. Students are rolling Play-Doh into spheres and pressing sequins into the center. But these aren’t just crafts. They are biological models of the “eyed egg” stage of trout development.
This lesson is part of Trout in the Classroom (TIC), an environmental education program used in schools across Pennsylvania and nationwide. TIC allows students to raise trout from eggs to fingerlings in a classroom aquarium, monitoring water quality and ecosystems before releasing the fish into approved local waterways.
Trout in the Classroom uses trout to teach concepts such as water chemistry, ecosystems, and environmental stewardship. Students learn to care for a living system, interpret data, and understand how human activity affects natural resources.
At Lamberton Middle School, Stephanie and her team adapted the standard Trout in the Classroom curriculum, originally designed for general education, for students with autism and intellectual/developmental disabilities.
They kept the core scientific goals but changed the delivery:
• Instead of only reading about water chemistry, students use water from the trout tank to fertilize plants, comparing growth against plants watered from the tap.
• They watch videos of egg development while building Play-Doh models to reinforce biological sequencing.
• The result is rigorous science instruction that is accessible when lessons are built to meet learners where they are.
The program’s success relies on more than curriculum alone. It requires shared expertise. Stephanie works closely with Chuck Dinkel, a volunteer from Trout Unlimited, who provides the technical guidance needed to maintain a complex cold-water ecosystem. This partnership allows the teaching staff to focus on what they do best: making the content accessible to students.
The trout tank has become a bridge within the school community. General education students and teachers now visit the CoVE classroom to check on the trout and ask questions about the project. Students who previously avoided social interaction are now explaining data to visitors or inviting peers to see their work.
The impact extends home as well. One parent shared that the responsibility practiced in class, checking the tank and managing the daily schedule, has translated into household chores like laundry and vacuuming. These aren’t just academic gains. They are steps toward autonomy.
Photos tell part of the story, but video shows how this learning comes to life. Watch highlights from a recent day in Stephanie’s classroom to see students engaging with the trout project, hands-on materials, and one another.
Trout in the Classroom relies on community support, equipment, and local partnerships to continue. You can learn more about the statewide program by visiting the Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom website:
Pennsylvania Trout in the Classroom
If you would like to help Vista Autism Services sustain inclusive STEM learning experiences like this one, consider making a donation. Your support helps educators continue building meaningful, hands-on learning opportunities for students of all abilities.
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