Think You Have Exciting Summer Plans?

Fish or Foul?

Think You have Exciting Summer Plans?

It’s an exciting time in Great Britain. London is buzzing with Olympic Fever. On July 27th athletes from all over the world will march in the Opening Ceremony of the 30th Summer Games. But that’s not all that makes this summer a remarkable one for the British. Queen Elizabeth is celebrating her Diamond Jubilee. Special festivities are planned to mark her 60 years of service. These two exciting events are sure to make this a summer of celebration for Great Britain.

The Olympics does more than highlight athletes and events. It also always gives us a glimpse into the customs of the host country. And with Queen Elizabeth’s Jubilee celebration also in the news, we are sure to learn a lot about Great Britain. One unique custom resulted in an odd collaboration between the United States and Great Britain.

A Pie Fit For a Queen?

Lampreys are part of a British tradition. These slippery eel-like fish are a native species in many places, like Great Britain. Some in Britain say they taste better than salmon. But now people can’t catch them because lamprey numbers are on the decline in Britain. Protecting this endangered species posed a problem for one city. Gloucester has a tradition of preparing a lamprey pie for special occasions. They present this pie to the British monarch, a custom that goes back to the Middle Ages. Because lampreys cannot be caught in Britain, the city could not make their traditional pie. Enter the United States -

People in the Great Lakes region of the United States consider the lamprey a pest. It is not a native species to the Lakes. For years, people and scientists in the region have tried to rid the waters of this destructive creature. With their large sucker-like mouths, they attach themselves to fish and rip away tissue with their sharp teeth. The fish often die. Lampreys are blamed for almost destroying Lake Superior’s lake trout population. Scientists have tried many methods to rid the Great Lakes of this invasive species. But who would have thought they could give the lamprey away?

This is just what happened in May 2012. Dr. Marc Gaden, from the Great Lakes Fishery Commission, packed a box of frozen lampreys. He presented them to the Mayor of Gloucester. Each man was happy. Dr. Gaden was thrilled to get rid of at least a few of the Great Lakes’ pests, and Mayor Andy Lewis was delighted to have the ingredients for such a time-honored tradition.

So, let the pie baking can begin! Sarrah Maccey is now gathering the other ingredients. After the crust is rolled out, the pie filling consisting of vinegar, cinnamon, and even lamprey blood, will be mixed with the lamprey. Are you ready to take a bite? Dig in!

Think about point of view. How would people in Great Britain describe this lamprey? Write a caption for the photo.

Lampreys are not native to the Great Lakes. How might people in this region describe this photo? Write a caption.

What does this photo tell you about cooperation and tradition? Write a caption.

Dear Colleague,

When our good friend, Marc Gaden, called to tell us about presenting lamprey to the Mayor of Gloucester for the Queen’s pie, my first thought was, “One man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” My second thought? “The poor Queen!” I can’t imagine such a pie, but, of course, we all have different tastes and viewpoints. I well remember my father’s days spent fishing on Lake Superior. He would show me any fish he caught that had a lamprey scar and then would proceed to describe this invasive and destructive creature. I grew up with a strong dislike for lamprey. What a surprise to hear about this time-honored tradition in England. And, what a wonderful story to illustrate the differences in our world! We can all win by collaborating and learning more about the needs of others. Help your students to verbalize this key lesson from the article.

Another important lesson of this activity is the importance of tradition. The City of Gloucester had a tradition. Dr. Gaden respected this tradition, even though it highlighted something he thought was a pest. Respect for the traditions of others is important in our ever-shrinking world. Encourage your students to consider the traditions around them. Are there traditions in your school that you can describe? Call attention to these. Some schools have the tradition of making end-of year scrapbooks for the next class to enjoy. Others gather for a celebration and music as vacation approaches. What traditions can your class list? They may not even view these activities as traditions until you call their attention to this. Extend the lesson by asking children to consider family traditions. You may even want to use the waning days of the school year to have children bring in descriptions or items that illustrate their family customs. What a wonderful opportunity this is for public speaking practice!

Use the upcoming Summer Olympics to further delve into tradition. What are the traditions of the Olympics? Do athletes wear specific colors or emblems to show the traditions of their country? Discovering answers to these types of questions helps children to hone their research skills. Ask them to find unique ways to share their findings with the class. You will be surprised with their creativity! Encourage children to be on the lookout for traditions as they watch coverage of the Olympics and the Queen’s Jubilee. What a wonderful way to extend this lesson far beyond your school year!

Happy teaching,

Dr. Kathy

Thanks to the Great Lakes Fishery Commission for permission to use the two lamprey photos. Visit their website at http://www.glfc.org/ to learn more about their important work and many accomplishments.

Thanks also to Martin Kirby, Commercial Features Journalist, Gloucestershire Media for the photo of the presentation of the lamprey.

Goals:

Students will read an article about the unique tradition of preparing and presenting a lamprey pie to the monarch of Great Britain. The idea that lamprey are a pest in the United States and a delicacy in the U.K. is discussed, leading to the idea that “one man’s trash is another man’s treasure.” Developing respect for tradition, in its many forms, is discussed in the Dear Colleague letter. This WAP is available on the primary and intermediate level and correlates with the National Social Studies Standards: Culture and People, Places and Environment.