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Fishkeeper Fry for Parents

Thanks for your interest in Fishkeeper Fry – our exciting, free interactive learning programme developed for primary school children by Maidenhead Aquatics.

Fishkeeper Fry classroom display

Now approaching its fourth year, our Fishkeeper Fry programme is an interactive learning programme, designed by the fishkeeping experts at Maidenhead Aquatics to support national curriculum primary science themes and is absolutely free of charge to teachers - its sole purpose being to develop the next generation of responsible fishkeepers and fishkeeping hobbyists. There is absolutely no payment required from schools at all and at the end of the programme schools can opt to keep their aquarium and fish free of charge assuming they are happy to continue to look after and maintain their aquariums once the programme closes.

Maidenhead Aquatics and our supporting partner, Fluval,  provide all schools selected to take part each year, with all the equipment and learning resources they need to set up their own aquarium in their classroom, including the aquarium and all associated equipment and a range of fish which they will learn all about - supported by their teacher. There is no cost to the school or the children taking part and the benefits of the programme are many including:

  1. Visual learning - Children can see how their efforts in tasks carried out affect the aquarium and its inhabitants. 
  2. All aspects of science can be taught from the mini eco-system; from water chemistry, to how fish eat and the nitrogen cycle
  3. Other key learnings can be filtered in around the subject, such as language, geography and history
  4. Valuable lessons in being responsible and caring for animals
  5. Teamwork - Working with classmates to ensure the aquarium is looked after and tasks are carried out
  6. Encourages children to look beyond their everyday life on land, use their imagination and consider the underwater world evolving in their classroom
  7. Aquariums have been proven to provide a calming atmosphere for people and studies have found that there is a loss of tension when fish are present in the classroom.

Each week teachers are asked to select a Fishkeeper of the Week as the child in their class who has embraced core tasks and associated work in the class in learning about and caring for their aquarium and fish. They will also share with us a range of work and photos of your child’s class working on the programme so that we can share these on our and our supporter, Fluval’s website and social media channels (Facebook, Twitter and Instagram).  Please note we will only share images where full parental consent for photography has been obtained from you by your school so you can be sure that only content that you are happy to be shared publicly on our website and social channels will be shared.

The programme is designed to be delivered in its entirety by your child’s school if the school is selected to participate and this will be either as part of the school day or as part of a lunchtime or extra-curriculum club. Some schools have included a visit to their local Maidenhead Aquatics store to see more fish and meet the store team supporting their class, but this is optional. Places are limited so if you think your child would like to learn more about keeping fish as pets and understanding more about the joys of the underwater world, please speak to your child’s school and ask them to sign up here.  

Please refer applications for Fishkeeper Fry here!

Please note whilst we warmly welcome interest from parents and other family members we can only accept formal applications to the programme from the teachers at schools who will be delivering the programme to their classes as it is their time commitment that the success of the programme will rely on. So, if you are not a teacher but know of a school or teacher who would be interested in taking part do share this page with them and encourage them to get involved.

Fishkeeper Fry 2020

Has your child's class been selected to take part in this year's programme?

Fishkeeper Fry 2020 kicks off on 20th January 2020, so why not follow along with the videos and lesson plans this year's teachers have been provided with so you can see what our Fry classes are working on each week here:
https://www.fishkeeper.co.uk/fishkeeper-fry-lessons

You can also check out our social media channels to keep up to date with what this year's children have been up to. We'll be posting our Fishkeepers of the Week along with photos and pictures of our classes' aquariums and associated work.

https://www.facebook.com/FishkeeperFry/
https://www.instagram.com/fishkeeper_fry/

Towards the end of the programme, we’ll also have some fantastic offers on the equipment that was used in the programme for parents of children who took part to purchase at very special prices, so that you can set up your own aquarium the same as the children have in their classroom at home should you wish and carry on the learning in the comfort of your own home.

Our Instagram Feed

Follow us @fishkeeper_fry

  1. The team at Fishkeeper Fry has worked with educational professionals to ensure that we are accessing core themes from the national curriculum. From this, we cover a range of subjects. While we love seeing how our students have set about the tasks we set them, seeing teachers and classes go beyond to create additional learning activities to engage student learning is also something special. #fishkeeping #schoolwork #sciencework #fishkeeping
  2. 'I have enjoyed learning about how to keep your aquarium SAFE and free from chemicals that can harm fish.' - Susie, Fishkeeper Fry Student #watertesting #fishkeeping #science #aquacare
  3. As we reach the middle of the programme, all schools are asked to think about what they would like to do with their aquarium when the programme is over. Schools have the option to keep the aquarium in class, return it to their allocated store or allow a student/teacher to purchase the aquarium. All options are displayed and explained in our latest communication. #tank #tropicaltank #fishkeeping #fluvaltank #fishkeeper
  4. As not all of our schools have completed week 5 yet, we have no weekly winners, not to worry for those of you who have completed week 4 your entries have been recieved. Over the course of the programme we have seen some incredible fishkeepers! #fishkeepers #fishkeeping #fishkeeper #year3 #students
  5. Week 4 Tank Winner Well done to St Sidwell's who have been award our Tank of the Week winner for week 4. The students at St Sidwell's have used Fishkeeper Fry to extend their learning outside of class, with some students even involving their younger siblings to learn about fish. #tropicaltank #tropical #fishkeeping #fishkeepers #tank #fluvalflex
  6. Week 4 Worksheet Winner 🎊 Well done to Mabel Pritchard School, who have been awarded our worksheet of the week for week 4. The students at Mabel Pritchard have ensured that completing their worksheets a staple of their weekly sessions. #education #learning #fishkeepers #year3 #science #educationalresources
  7. Week 4 Fishkeeper of the Week Winner 🎉 Well done to Croxton Kerrial for being chosen as our Fishkeeper of the Week Winner for Week 4. Croxton Kerrial this week was visited by a local marine and freshwater biologist, who spoke to the children about fish. #fishkeepers #tropicalfishkeepers #youngfishkeepers #education
  8. With most of our schools being on half term this week, last week our student learnt about holiday care and how to care for their aquariums and fish over the break. Holiday care is something that is regularly exercised by all fishkeepers, this is why we actively decided to make is part of our lessons and a part of the programme. For our students not on half term this week, we hope you enjoy week 5! #fishkeepers #fishkeeping #tropicaltank #educating #education #youngfishkeepers
  9. Fishkeeper Fry works alongside the national curriculum to enhance the student learning experience. Over the years we have worked with teachers to ensure that we deliver a programme that all students can gain the most out of. Alongside the video lessons, we ask students to complete work that supports cross-curriculum activities of English, maths and science. #year3 #science #schoollearning #fishkeeping #nationalcurriculm #youngfishkeeers
  10. It isn't just schools taking part in Fishkeeper Fry 2020. @fishkeeperinverness is following the programme in store. Fishkeeping Inverness is also supporting multiple stores in this years programme. If you are interested in the items that are used in the programme speak to your allocated store about how you can take the set up home. #tropicaltank #fishkeeping #fishkeepers #fluvalflex
  11. Congratulations to our Week 3 Winner for Worksheet of the Week. Tasks during Fishkeeper Fry are set to inspire children with regards to their learning. Sharing how your students get on will ensure we can keep providing national curriculum activities for all students. #scienceproject #worksheet #students #fishkeeping
  12. Congratulations to our Week 3 Winners for Tank of the Week: Auldhouse Primary. Please continue to share your aquariums with us as they grow and develop into classroom underwater wonderlands. #tropicaltank #fishkkepers #winners #fluvalflex
  13. Congratulations to our Week 3 Winner for Fishkeeper of the Week. Our winners will receive a £25 gift card to spend in one of our stores. For your chance to be our Week 4 winner, ensure you have submitted your images before Sunday evening. #winners #youngfishkeepers #scienceprogramme #edcation #fishkeeping
  14. Water chemistry is a vital part of Fishkeeping, no matter your experience. Regular testing to ensure that your water is safe for your fish is something that is backed by the ethos of Maidenhead Aquatics. Each week when recording your water chemistry, should you notice any issues please contact your allocated store. #youngfishkeepers #aquariums #waterchemistry #fishkeepers
  15. Fishkeeper Fry works alongside the national curriculum to ensure that we can enhance student learning. We ensure that we offer cross-curricular activities. We often ask teachers to share what they have done with their students to offer a wider variety of activites. #schoolproject #scienceprogramme #educational #fishkeeping
  16. 'Our aquarium looks really pretty, the plants and the lights – that change colour look great in our classroom.' - Elodie a Fishkeeper Fry Student
  17. Have your class excelled in Fishkeeper Fry? Are you finding it hard to each week pick a winning Fishkeeper of the Week? Fishkeeping is a skill and hobby that can last a lifetime. We hope that we can inspire a generation of Fishkeepers to a lifetime hobby. 🐟 #fishkeeping #fishkeepers #scienceproject #hobbiest
  18. Tank of the Week🏆 Beech Grove has been chosen as our winner for Tank of the Week for Week 2. Well done to all involved. #winner #tank #tropicaltank #fishkeeping #fishkeepers
  19. Worksheet of the Week! Seeing all of our students complete and enhance their learning via the tasks ensures that we are creating a programme that is beneficial to our students. This week's worksheet winner is from Healey Junior, Infant & Nursery School. Having been inspired by their lessons, students went home to create their underwater wonderland. #homework #science #schoolprogramme #year3 #underwater
  20. Winner!🏆 Thank you to all of our schools, who submitted images of their Fishkeeper of the Week. Due to the volume of submissions our team found it incredibly hard to choose a winner for week 2. We would like to say well done to all of our Fishkeepers of the Week, but a huge congratulations to our Week 2 Winner. Be sure, to send in your submissions for next week's Fishkeeper of the week. #winner #schoolproject #youngfishkeepers #science #fishkeeping