Fish! Core Values that Can be Incorporated into the Classroom

Submitted by: Eddie Knapp
School: Deep Run High School

Summary

Students are asked to read the book Fish! A Proven Way to Boost Morale and Improve Results. The book emphasizes the four core values of the World Famous Pike’s Fish Market in Seattle, Washington. They are: Make their day, Play, Be Present and Choose your attitude. Students will be placed in groups and divided into the four core values. They are asked to create a presentation that would explain their core value and how it could be applied to the class’s daily operations. The only restraint on the presentation is that it cannot exceed 45 minutes and must be school appropriate. The presentation is recorded on video and the group will then edit their raw video into a 3 minute condensed version of their original presentations. Students not presenting are asked to review the presentation and participate when asked by presenters.

TIPC Ratings

Approaching: The students are instructed in the format of the learning process for this activity. They are formulating their own questions to guide their research and responding with their personal values and interests. In the production of the presentation, they are selecting the digital tools for their presentation. Each group makes suggestions to their peers about how to apply the ideas/values within Fish to daily living.

Approaching: The students form their groups and establish interactions and roles within the group to complete the assignment. Students are collaborating at each level of the presentation process without direct input from the instructor. Their format of their end product is completely at their discretion as is the digital platform with which they present their core value.

Approaching: The students are asked to present to their peers how to incorporate their choice of four (4) core values from the book Fish! into the daily life or into the general classroom. Choosing these four values allow the students to generate their own questions with regard to the best avenue of presenting and implementing. The questioning requires that the students defend their ideas within the group as valid approaches. Because there is no limitation other than a 45 minute time limit of the final presentation, the students have the opportunity to use a variety of digital tools to solve an authentic task.

Approaching: The freedom of the team atmosphere allows students to be inspired and creative to create meaningful and original work. Their solutions to the problem of creating a new class atmosphere ask them to be innovative within the parameters of the school’s rules, yet allow them to expand their understanding of what can be acceptable. Because the students are intrigued by the opportunity to effect change in their daily routine, they feel empowered to seek new solutions to common everyday problems.