Paul Zollinger, science teacher at Northeast Range (NER) School, has been working alongside Minnesota’s Trout in the classroom program to introduce students to trout rearing. Northeast Range is one of 72 schools in the state participating in this program.
During the spring of 2024, Zollinger applied for a grant through the Northeast Service Cooperative, focusing on Career and Technical Education (CTE) opportunities. Thanks to this grant, the science classroom now has an aquarium and specialized equipment to rear trout. The grant will also cover the cost of transportation for off-campus learning activities.
In addition, Zollinger received a classroom set of Braiding Sweetgrass by Robin Wall Kimmerer and Monique Gray Smith from the district’s Indigenous Education Program. The novel will serve as a cooperative learning tool, read alongside Dawn Merrill’s English Language Arts (ELA) class. This Young Adult novel bridges indigenous wisdom, scientific knowledge, and the lessons of plant life—enhancing the trout rearing program.
“Making connections to Indigenous culture and local traditions is important to maintaining a well-rounded education,” said Jennifer Kaufenberg, CIS and ELA teacher. “The author, Robin Wall Kimmerer, is an indigenous scientist and botanist. This novel will help students make connections between what they are learning in the classroom, reading, and exploring out in the field. Braiding Sweetgrass is the perfect book to read while we are rearing trout and learning about our local resources and environment.”
Zollinger’s College In the Schools (CIS) environmental science class recently ventured to Fall Lake for hands-on fieldwork, meeting with staff from Minnesota’s Trout in the Classroom program to conduct a macroinvertebrate study. By studying the aquatic insects they collected, students determined the water quality was ideal for trout and other fish species. This understanding of clean water will play a critical role as the students manage their own school trout tank.
According to Zollinger, the classroom tank is now filled with water and is being prepped for the arrival of trout eggs later this year. After the students successfully rear the trout, NER students will have the unique opportunity to release the fish into a local lake.
