Fish

Striped Bass Curriculum

Striper Science:
Striper Science is a set of lesson plans and resources for middle school and high school level based on striped bass research conducted in Massachusetts. Resources include PowerPoint presentations, inquiry lessons based on databases, field studies, and online videos. We are proud to present these lesson plans and resources which are based on Massachusetts Science Curriculum Frameworks.

This work was conducted by partners involve in the Plum Island Sound Long Term Ecological Research (PIE-LTER). The scientific research was conducted by Massachusetts Cooperative Fish and Wildlife Research Unit, UMass-Amherst (Dr. Martha Mather, Sarah Pautzke and Kristen Ferry) and supported by the Massachusetts Division of Marine Fisheries. Lesson developers and advisors include Liz Duff, Martha Mather, Kristen Ferry, Robert Muth, Jack Finn, Sarah Pautzke, Pat Harcourt and Melissa Sanderson. Striper Science was funded by the National Science Foundation.

Find out how you can support this research through the Adopt-a-Bass program.

Striper Science Outline:
This contains an outline of the Striper Science essential understandings, vocabulary, and Massachusetts Science Frameworks. (PDF 108K)

Lesson plans may be used individually. However, the suggested sequence for these lessons is as follows:

1. Where in the Bay?
   • Investigate how salinity impacts the distribution of estuarine fish in the Chesapeake Bay, Maryland. (PDF 1.1M)
   • PowerPoint (PPT 1.7M)
2. Striper Prey and Salinity
   
   • Investigate how striper prey is impacted by salinity levels. (PDF 687K)
   • PowerPoint (PPT 1.2M)
3. Lesson for Exploring Estuarine Living Marine Resources (ELMR) Database
   
   • Database of the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration (NOAA) is available for online inquiry activities.
     
   • Learn to use it (PDF 199K)
4. Searching for Striper Spawn
   
   • Investigate where striped bass spawn via this guided online inquiry (PDF 1.4M)
   • Striper EL MR data (XLS 1.4M)
5. "Why Stripers Go" Lesson Plan
   Learn about research on striped bass traveling choices and diet done by Kristen Ferry and Martha Mather in Plum Island Sound.
   • Lesson Plan (PDF 1.7M)
   • Why Stripers Go, Part 1 (8 minutes)
   • Why Stripers Go, Part 2 (10 minutes)
6. Seine Surveys
   
   • Learn simple field methods for surveying striped bass prey species found on the coast. (PDF 81K)
7. Bass Habitat Use
   Learn about striped bass behavior in Plum Island Sound based on research done by Martha Mather and Sarah Pautzke.
   
   • Bass Habitat Use Lesson Outline (PDF 1.3M)
   • Bass Habitat Use Part 1 (9.5 minutes)
   • Bass Habitat Use Part 2 (7.5 minutes)
8. Interviewing Anglers
   Conduct a survey with local anglers following an interview format designed by Robert Muth, Professor, Department of Natural Resources Conservation, University of Massachusetts, Amherst.
   1. Angler Survey (PDF 26K)
   2. Analyze data using this excel format. (XLS 1.6M)
9. Sustainable Fishing Scales and Tales Lesson
   
   • Explore fishing and sustainability issues through this hands-on lesson designed by Pat Harcourt. (PDF 68K)
10. Investigate: Climate Change & Striped Bass
    • Explore human impact via climate change on striped bass. (PDF 72K)