Fish SD

What is Fish SD?

Fish SD is a curriculum program focused on basic fishing skills and an appreciation for the sport of angling.

Designed for grades 4-12, Fish SD provides schools with teacher training, equipment, materials, and activities. The primary Fish SD activities are well-suited for physical education programs. Additional activities integrate with all disciplines, making it simple to expand the program beyond the gym and into the classroom.

Qualifying schools are selected annually to receive a Fish SD equipment package, and teacher training workshops are scheduled during summer months.

For more information, contact Maggie Lindsey at Maggie.Lindsey@state.sd.us or by phone at 605.223.7667.

Fish SD Activities:

Here are some fun fishing themed activities for the kids. Use the Fish SD curriculum to hone their skills in knot tying, casting, fish identification, and more. Activities are listed in their suggested order. Each activity refers to a chapter of the Going Fishing Guide. 

• Going Fishing Guide Part 1
• Going Fishing Guide Part 2
  • Knot Tying (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Rigging a Fishing Pole (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Casting Accuracy and Distance (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Where are the Fish? (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Lure Making (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Attract a Fish (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Trip Planner (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Fishing Regulations (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Photographing Your Catch (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Fish Cookbook (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Tale of a Scale (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Fish Population Estimation (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Fashion a Fish (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Gyotaku-fish printing (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Fish ID Key (Lesson Plan PDF)
  • Aquatic Web of Life (Lesson Plan PDF)

Aquatic Invasive Species

This curriculum is built to introduce Middle School students to aquatic invasive species, their effect on South Dakota ecosystems, and what aquatic managers do to slow the spread.  

The Curriculum is a series of 5 lesson plans that can last anywhere from 35 minutes to 75 minutes and are written with South Dakota Content Standards in mind. Each lesson can be done alone or the 5 lessons can be done as a week-long unit. It also builds in experiential opportunities for students along with adaptations for indoor or outdoor activities.  

Each lesson is free to download and has pages that teachers can print off for their students to utilize for the lessons.  

• Aquatic Invasive Species Full Curriculum
  • Lesson 1 – What is an Ecosystem? 
  • Lesson 2 – What is an Aquatic Invasive Species? 
  • Lesson 3 – How Aquatic Invasive Species Move
  • Lesson 4 – Most Wanted
  • Lesson 5 – What Aquatic Managers Do to Slow the Spread
• Aquatic Invasive Species Curriculum Video Resources
  • Curriculum Introduction
  • Introduction to AIS
  • Interview with the GFP AIS Coordinator
  • Stream/Pond Ecology—Lesson 1 Resource
  • Boat Inspections
  • Slow the Spread, Understanding Human Impact

Other Aquatic Information

Aquatic Invasive Species (Lesson Plan PDF)

Fishing Fun (Project Outline PDF)