Goals

My hope is to provide a resource for teachers interested in using cichlids in the classroom as a means of teaching about biology, animal behaviour, evolution, ecology, environmental science and related topics.

Cichlids are ideally suited for use in the classroom because they are diverse, robust, brightly colored and do interesting things on a time scale suitable for teaching. Many species can be maintained and bred by novices.

If you are currently using cichlids in the classroom (or for home schooling) I am interested in hearing about what you are doing.

Perhaps we can put together some materials useful to other teachers and students. If you would like to be listed as a potential resource person for other teachers to contact about using cichlids in your classroom, please let me know.

If you are not using cichlids in the classroom, but would like to, why not? i.e., what is stopping you?

 

Cichlids can be used to teach about:

• Geography: cichlids are found in North, Central and South America, islands of the Caribbean, Africa, the Middle East, Madagascar, southern India, and Sri Lanka
• Aquatic environments: they inhabit all major aquatic habitats ranging from fast flowing waters to swamps; fresh, brackish and even occasionally salt water
• Behaviour: feeding, parenting, swimming, fighting
• Endangered species
• Tropical ecology
• tons of other things...

Current Projects that Use Cichlids in the Classroom

Project ELF

Project ELF (Endangered Lake Fish) introduces students in Jackson County, Michigan to the plight of endangered cichlids in Lake Victoria, East Africa.

 

Resources:

• Setting up a Simple Central American Cichlid Aquarium
• Project ELF

 

Links of Interest to Teachers

• Mrs. Billman's Cool Beans Room by Claire Billman
• iScienceProject.com