There are countless ways you can teach with local examples through fishing. You could teach about marine sciences of fisheries. Students could show off their math skills by calculating how much grub commercial fisherman need to purchase for a trip. You could teach students the history of the changing conditions for local fisherman because of technological innovations and legislation that affects the industry. Or, by using our new SHIPS film below, teach about women’s history in commercial fishing. Links below to additional resources on lesson plans, virtual tours, and digital exhibits can give you some ideas on how to incorporate the topic of the fishing industry into your classrooms.
Join us on this segment of SHIPS where we team up with Rhode Island-based documentarian Mark Starr who’s interviews and film help us learn women in the commercial fishing industry at Point Judith. Background about the port is provided by Dan Costa. You’ll hear from Jenn Fish, Mary O’Rourke, and Stesha Campbell about their experiences working in the fishing industry. This film was produced by the Steamship Historical Society of America and edited by Education Director Aimee Bachari.
Additional Resources
View educational materials for the New England/Mid-Atlantic from the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration.
Check out the digital exhibit, Women’s Work, from the Fishing Heritage Center in New Bedford, Massachusetts.
A Changing Way of Life is a digital exhibit by the Fishing Heritage Center that explores the roles that labor, immigration, and sustainability affect New Bedford’s fishing industry. Click here to access the digital exhibit, A Changing Way of Life, and download educational activities related to topics of labor, immigration, and sustainability.
Take a virtual vessel tour of the F/V Huntress and find additional activities from the Fishing Heritage Center in New Bedford.
