Shad
/ʃæd/
nounB2
Definition
Shad is a kind of fish that lives in both fresh and salt water. It is famous for swimming upstream in rivers to lay eggs during certain seasons. People often catch shad for food because it has a good taste and is nutritious.
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See It in Action
A fish species known for migrating from the sea to rivers to spawn (lay eggs)
- •The shad runs up the river every spring.
- •Fishermen wait for the shad season to catch these tasty fish.
- •Shad is important in many coastal ecosystems because it feeds other animals.
(Less common) Sometimes "shad" can refer to similar fish species in the herring family.
Make It Stick
- ✓Think of "shad" like "fish" (A1 word), but a special kind that travels between sea and river to reproduce
- ✓Picture a silver fish swimming strongly against the river current in springtime
- ✓It's the feeling of excitement when you see fish jumping in a river during their migration season
- ✓Sounds like "shad" → imagine a shadow (dark shape) moving quickly in the water, but it's a shiny fish
- ✓In stories or nature shows, shad is one of the fish that shows the power of nature's cycles—living in two worlds (sea and river)
- ✓NOT like "goldfish" (small, kept in tanks), shad is wild and large, living in natural waters
- ✓NOT like "salmon" (also migrates), but shad is usually smaller and has a different taste and body shape
- ✓NOT like "swimming fish" that stay in one place; shad moves between ocean and river to complete its life cycle
Try Other Words
- •Herring: a similar small fish often found in the sea (Use when talking about fish in the same family but not specifically shad)
- •Alewife: another fish that migrates between sea and river (Use in regions where alewife is common, similar to shad)
- •Spawn-run fish: fish that swim upstream to lay eggs (Use when focusing on the behavior rather than the species)
Unboxing
- •Word parts: "shad" is a simple root word with no prefix or suffix
- •Etymology: From Old English "sceadd" meaning a kind of fish, related to Germanic languages
- •Historical development: Used in English since early times to describe this migratory fish important for food and fishing
- •Modern usage: Still used mainly in North America and Europe to refer to this fish, especially during its migration season
- •Interesting fact: Shad has cultural importance in some areas, with festivals celebrating the shad run
Reflect & Connect
•How do you think the migration of shad affects the people and animals living near the rivers?
•Can you think of other animals that travel long distances to reproduce, like the shad?
Fill in the blanks
1.Fishermen wait for the shad season because the fish swim ___ up the river to lay eggs.
2.The shad is different from other fish because it lives both in the sea and ___ water.
3.Unlike goldfish, shad is a wild fish that migrates and ___ during certain seasons.
4.When people talk about the shad run, they mean the time when many shad ___ upstream.
5.Shad is often caught for food because it has a ___ taste and is nutritious.
6.The word "shad" sounds like "shadow," but it means a ___ fish.
7.Shad migration is important for the river ecosystem because it provides ___ for other animals.