Simple events turn into some of life’s best lessons.
A fishing trip to the Chatahoochee River and the boys caught the season’s first fish. They came home and it was time for a Science lesson and a life lesson all rolled up into one.
The science lesson, that was easy to see. A science lab at it’s best!
The life lesson proved to be a big part of the experience as well. It was fun listening to my husband explain to a 9 year old boy that one day he just may find himself out in the middle of Alaska at some point, (like his hero Survivorman) and that’s motivation to learn how to clean that fish you caught. That fish is your dinner.
That was part of the life lesson. There was a step by step instructional on HOW TO clean the fish, along with the discussion that we NEVER take from the earth anything we don’t intend to use. Not only did we have a Science lab, we had a lesson in responsibility and following through and respecting creation, all creation.
That’s what they did.
Hayden learned that part of catching fish is cleaning them. He learned that as a fisherman, he has a responsibility to the earth and it reinforced to him that fishing with dad is a blast, and that science is most fun when it’s DONE!
There are plenty of great children’s fishing resources online and many offer sections specifically for kids.
Fishing 4 Fun has a wonderful kids site and many states offer fishing sites that have sections dedicated to children learning the sport.
And just in case you’ve been inspired to try fishing this summer…and you get lucky, here’s a link that will help you CLEAN your own fish for dinner. That’s just because I’m nice! 
It’s ALL hands on Science! Just in time for summer!
Have fun!! You just never know what unexpected lessons will emerge…life lessons!
