SMOLT for High School Students

OVERVIEW

SMOLT (3:43) brings us into a story of salmon migration. Many of us are already familiar with the extraordinary migration of adult fish, such as Salmon and Steelhead, from the ocean to freshwater streams to spawn. But there is another migration that receives much less attention: The out migration of the young of those spawning adults—the smolt—moving from their natal (birthplace) streams to the ocean. "Smolt" is a life stage similar to being a teenager. The fish are transforming physiologically and facing many new challenges as they leave sheltered waters for the ocean. This is also a story of the critical habitats salmon depend on for nurseries and transit hubs: the small streams, mighty rivers, rich estuaries, riparian (along waterways) forests, and vast ocean. Lastly, this is a story of us, and whether we celebrate salmon or not, we all are nourished by them.

We invite you to use multiple lenses to explore the following guiding question for SMOLT: In what ways are salmon, people and rivers interconnected? We also invite you to create the next chapter for this story, not by writing it, but by taking actions that support the flourishing of people and salmon. You'll find ideas for action at the end of this guide.

Let's Begin.

THINGS TO THINK ABOUT (OUTCOMES)

At the end of the lesson, you will know more about yourself, other people and nature, and will be able to:

  • describe how people, culture, smolt, and rivers are interconnected using the lenses of scientific inquiry, social science, structure and function and personal reflection.

  • communicate knowledge of a career in fisheries.

  • express greater self-awareness of personal connections to the health of rivers, estuaries and riparian ecosystems.

  • conduct a scientific investigation.

  • demonstrate knowledge of how to use scientific literature, video, and vetted online sites to gather, synthesize and present information.

Aerial view of a healthy forested valley.

VOCABULARY

Listen for these words while watching the video, and use the context to figure out what they mean.

Out migration

Smolt

Estuary

Nursery Habitat

Biomass

A migratory corridor with a healthy riparian forest. Notice how the forest extends to the edges of the river.

Please watch the video using the fullscreen setting.

An estuary, a body of water where freshwaters and salt waters mix, is a critical nursery & transit hub for salmon and a multitude of other species.