Betta Breeding Bonanza: Genetics & Fin-tastic Fish!

High School Grade Project 5 weeks

Betta Breeding Bonanza: Genetics & Fin-tastic Fish!

Camilo P

Collaboration

Critical Thinking & Problem Solving

Effective Communication

Content Expertise

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Purpose

The purpose of your betta fish farm project is to immerse yourself in hands-on learning by raising and breeding fish while exploring genetic patterns. Collaborating with peers and community partners, you will design a sustainable environment for the fish farm, fostering critical thinking and problem-solving skills to address challenges. By communicating through exhibitions and presentations, you'll share your discoveries, deepening your understanding of both scientific concepts and effective business practices.

Learning goals

Collaborate with community partners such as Coast Gem USA, Petco, and Petsmart to gain insights and resources in betta fish breeding. Apply critical thinking to analyze genetic trends in fin shapes and colors, fostering innovative approaches to address real-world breeding challenges. Communicate your findings and experiences effectively through presentations and reflections, sharing knowledge with peers and experts. Demonstrate content expertise by successfully breeding diverse betta fish, showcasing new offspring characteristics as tangible evidence of your learning and research outcomes.

Competencies

Collaboration - Students co-design projects with peers, exercise shared-decision making, strengthen relational agency, resolve conflict, and assume leadership roles.
Critical Thinking & Problem Solving - Students consider a variety of innovative approaches to address and understand complex questions that are authentic and important to their communities.
Effective Communication - Students practice listening to understand, communicating with empathy, and share their learning through exhibiting, presenting and reflecting on their work.
Content Expertise - Students develop key competencies, skills, and dispositions with ample opportunities to apply knowledge and engage in work that matters to them.

Products

Develop a comprehensive presentation that details the scientific process and outcomes of your betta fish breeding project. Partner with Coast Gem USA, Petco, Petsmart, or knowledgeable individuals to showcase findings at local events and facilitate discussions on breeding techniques and genetic variations. Create a visual exhibit of your betta farm that highlights the new colors and fin shapes achieved, while encouraging community input and collaboration for ongoing improvements and sustainability efforts in your aquatic venture.

Launch

Begin your senior project with a collaborative workshop involving community partners such as Coast Gem USA, Petco, and Petsmart. During the workshop, engage in discussions and activities surrounding the care, breeding, and genetics of betta fish. Facilitate hands-on sessions where you set up your fish farm with guidance from experts in aquaculture. Use this opportunity to discuss your project goals and create a shared vision for the farm's development, fostering a sense of collective responsibility and leadership in the community partnership process.

Exhibition

Coordinate an exhibition event at a local pet store such as Petco or Petsmart where you showcase your betta fish farm, including the different color variants and fin shapes you've successfully bred. Invite community partners and peers to attend, allowing you to explain the genetic research and care methodologies you applied throughout the project. Engage attendees in interactive sessions where they can observe the fish closely and ask questions, and provide a brief presentation outlining the business potential of your farm. Use this opportunity to demonstrate collaboration and critical thinking through discussions and feedback from guests.

Rubric

Competency Progression Rubric Competency-first rubric

Category	Learning Goal	Stage 1	Stage 2	Stage 3	Stage 4
Deeper Learning Competencies	Collaboration	I can actively participate in group discussions and contribute my ideas, but I may need guidance to ensure all voices are heard and roles are shared equally In my project, I show willingness to work with my peers and community partners, even if I sometimes rely on others to take the lead in decision-making or resolving conflicts.	I can participate actively in group discussions with my peers and community partners to develop our betta fish farm, showing that I can share ideas and contribute to the planning process, but I may need some guidance when resolving conflicts or making shared decisions.	I can effectively collaborate with community partners by actively participating in workshops and discussions, helping to create a shared vision for our betta fish farm I contribute ideas, listen to others, and make decisions that reflect our collective goals while demonstrating leadership by organizing tasks and resolving any conflicts that arise.	I can actively engage with community partners, valuing each person's expertise to co-design innovative solutions for our betta fish farm I foster effective communication, ensuring all voices are heard and integrated into our shared vision I lead and contribute ideas during meetings, maintaining a positive and respectful atmosphere that encourages relational growth and teamwork.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Critical Thinking & Problem Solving	I can identify and explain at least one challenge in breeding betta fish and propose a simple solution, even with some guidance I use observations from my fish farm to support my ideas and understand that trying new methods can lead to successful outcomes.	I can analyze and apply some innovative approaches to solve real-world problems by identifying trends in genetic variations of betta fish, and I can propose a few practical solutions to address breeding challenges that I’ve encountered so far.	I can analyze genetic patterns and breeding techniques with the guidance of community partners, identifying innovative solutions to enhance the colors and fin shapes of betta fish, and apply these solutions to achieve the goals of my fish farm project.	I can analyze complex genetic patterns in betta fish with precision, using diverse strategies to solve breeding challenges and improve the variety of colors and fin shapes I thoughtfully consider and integrate community partner insights to develop innovative solutions, demonstrating mastery by adapting my approach for optimal outcomes in real-world contexts.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Effective Communication	I can share my project's findings by creating a basic presentation that outlines my discoveries in betta fish breeding, and I practice explaining these ideas to others, even if I occasionally need help to clearly communicate certain concepts to my audience.	I can communicate my findings by creating and giving a clear presentation about my betta fish farm that includes specific examples of the breeding techniques and genetic patterns I've discovered I listen carefully to feedback from my peers and community partners and respond with thoughtful answers to their questions.	I can effectively communicate my findings and ideas by actively engaging with community partners and peers, sharing my knowledge through presentations and exhibitions that highlight the successful breeding of diverse betta fish and the genetic patterns discovered.	I can clearly and confidently present my betta fish breeding project findings, engaging community partners and peers through detailed explanations and interactive sessions I actively listen, respond thoughtfully to questions, and use visual aids to enhance understanding of genetic trends and business insights, demonstrating effective communication skills.
Deeper Learning Competencies	Content Expertise	I can identify some key genetic traits of betta fish and explain their importance, but I might need help organizing my thoughts or understanding more complex concepts When I display my project, I can present a few interesting facts about breeding techniques that I learned from community partners and share some basic observations about my fish farm.	I can recognize and describe patterns in the colors and fin shapes of betta fish I have bred, and I can explain how these outcomes relate to the genetics of the species I use feedback from community partners to refine my understanding and make informed decisions about the fish farm's development.

Learning Journey

Empathize

You will engage with community partners and conduct interviews to understand their insights and experiences on raising and breeding betta fish, focusing on discovering the needs and challenges faced in creating a successful fish farm.

Days 1 - 3