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Lure Design

Activity

Inspired by Fish Characteristics

Fish are attracted to things that look and move like their natural prey. Choose a fish from your local ecosystem or one from the list below. What do they eat? Now create a lure inspired by your fish’s diet!

five brightly colored fishing lures with hooks hanging from a shelf

a fly fisherman holding a fishing rod in their right hand and a frog shaped lure in the left hand

fishing flied of different colors with hooks over white background

Science Seed

Fishing lures have been around for a long time, with some of the first ones being used in ancient China and Egypt. Lures were originally made from things like bone, feathers, bronze, and wood. In the 19th century, people started using new materials like metal and rubber to create lures. This allowed them to make more detailed and interesting designs. Fishing lures are designed to look and move like the kinds of food that fish like to eat. Fish have natural instincts that make them interested in these lures because they look like their prey. Today, there are many different types of fishing lures, each made to attract specific fish by imitating their favorite foods. Here are some examples to get you started! Largemouth Bass – Diet: Small fish, crayfish, frogs, insects. Rainbow Trout – Diet: Insects like mayflies, stoneflies, small fish, small crustaceans. Bluegill – Diet: Insects, small crustaceans, algae.

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earn Badges

Badges can be earned through hands-on experiences within each of the 16 branches of science, or “Science Slices.” You can earn a badge in each branch of science by doing four activities in these categories. We also encourage participants to keep a Nature Journal to record their memories, and to express themselves creatively through writing or drawing after each activity. We recommend that each child (and parent if they’d like) write or draw in a journal after each activity, with expectations of your children that match their age (the goal is self-expression, not perfection).

Explore Texas School for the Blind and Visually Impaired

The Ecologist School Pocket Guide: TSBVI edition is a collaboration between Families in Nature and the Texas School for the Blind & Visually Impaired as an effort to help our community learn more about the TSBVI campus, while getting outside into nature together! This booklet has 80 lessons across 16 different branches of science to help you play, learn, and volunteer on campus!

join Families in Nature

It is our vision to inspire all families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists. Becoming a member of Families in Nature will give your family the opportunity to have adventures in nature, experience field science, develop as youth conservation leaders, and make memories that will last a lifetime. Memberships are free for everyone.

Who are we?

Families in Nature works to create opportunities for nature connection with the purpose of sparking a deep love and desire to protect, conserve and restore the environment. Our mission is to connect children and their families to nature and to each other through time spent learning, playing, and volunteering outdoors. It is our vision to inspire ALL families to fall in love with nature and foster the next generation of conservationists.