This week in 6th grade science we investigated why the sea lamprey has caused the trout and perch population to decline in the Great Lakes by looking at the external and internal structures of preserved perch and sea lamprey. I was so impressed with how the kids did with their first science dissection. I heard so many great observations! Kids said things like, “Wow, I can’t believe how many teeth the sea lamprey have and how sharp they are!” “I think the sea lamprey has such a long snake-like body because it allows it to move quicker through the water to eat the other fish, like the perch.” Some kids even took it a step further by investigating other parts of both fish. Many kids found the brain, and spent time removing some of the sea lamprey’s teeth to get a better look and understanding at how important they are in making them the top predator in the Great Lakes. Make sure to ask your kids about the dissection over the weekend and check out some of the pictures of the lab below!