Title
Activity: Observing Fish Scales
NGSS Science and Engineering Practices
NGSS Crosscutting Concepts
NGSS Disciplinary Core Ideas
Table of Contents
Materials
- Forceps
- Microscope slide
- Dissecting microscope or hand lens
Procedure
- Examine fish scales.
- Grasp a fish scale gently with some forceps and remove it from the body of the fish or from the specimen container.
- Place the fish scale on a microscope slide and examine it under a dissecting microscope. Look for rings, spikes, and other structures.
- Draw the fish scale and describe it.
- Make a note of the shape, thickness, and size of your fish scale.
- Identify the type of scale it is using Fig. 4.42. Explain your identification.
- Compare your scale specimens to other scales from the same fish.
- Repeat procedures 1 and 2 with scales from different parts of the fish (like near the head or tail).
- How does the size and thickness of the scales vary across the body of the fish?
- What other similarities or differences do you notice between the scales on different parts of the fish body?
- (Optional) Repeat procedures 1–3 with a different fish.
- Compare the scales from different parts of the body from the second fish
- Compare the scales from both fish to each other
- Which fish has bigger scales?
- Which fish has thicker scales?
- What other similarities or differences do you notice?
Activity Questions
- What can the type of scale on a fish tell you about the evolutionary relationship of your fish?
- How might scales on a fish be used in protection?
- Why do you think some fish have large scales and others have small scales?
- Why do you think some fish have no scales at all?
- If a fish scale makes rings as it grows, how might the rings be used to estimate the age of the fish?
- How do you think the type of scales on a fish might affect your ability to make a fish print?
