Bluegill, sunnies,pumkinseeds -all panfish. Start as eggs in shallow nest hollowed out by female on shoreline. Once hatched, babies are "fry" or fingerlings. About 1 inch long, stay in nest or follow mother on very short trips along shore. Do not begon to take on adult shape until about 5 to 8 weeks. Leave nest at about same time. From then on, they grow somewhat rapidly and have adult colors. As they age, take on flatter image, i.e. Panfish. Not too many pictures your son can draw because fish don't change that much in appearance. One interesting fact he might mention in project is that all the eggs usually hatch within two hours from start to finish.
