Nature for New Minnesotans – Fishing and Mercury Pollution: Public Health
This lesson provides reading, writing, and speaking opportunities for students to learn about mercury in fish and its impact on public health. With a focus on Minnesota, the lesson first asks students to share their own experiences with warnings around fish consumption. After reviewing vocabulary, a reading on the dangers of mercury is provided, as well as an online activity that uses the Minnesota Department of Health website to determine safe consumption limits for different groups of people.
A hands-on extension activity is included to help students understand the phenomenon of bioaccumulation and biomagnification in fish. If your classroom is interested in fishing opportunities in Minnesota, please contact Lucas Rapisarda, program director of Nature for New Minnesotans, at [email protected].