Pond Explorations:
Dipping into Science
The Pond Explorations program invites students to explore aquatic habitats. This program lets students get their feet "wet" with STEM focused activities: from species identification to habitat health.
Pond Explorations can easily be incorporated into a classroom. Its stand-alone components allow for maximum flexibility. Pre- and post-program resources are tailored to different grade levels. They can be used in conjunction with a visit to the EIC for a hands-on exploration of the Rose Garden pond or with the video of naturalist Samantha Opolsky exploring the aquatic habitat at the EIC. Of course, the EIC Pond Exploration Video can also be viewed by itself for a quick dip into science.
EIC Pond Exploration Video
Grades 3-5 Resources
The pre-program resources will help introduce students to pond exploration and the post-program resources will help reinforce their experiences.
Pre-Program Resources
Introductory Concepts
- Habitat - place where plants and animals live
- Ecosystem - all living and nonliving things in an area
- Adaptation - a special skill or body part that helps an organism survive in the wild
- Metamorphosis - process some animals go through to become adults
- Photosynthesis - process in which green plants use sunlight to make their own food
- Life Cycle - the growth that a living thing goes through from birth to death
Sights and Sounds
- Know your frog calls (DNR Indiana Department of Natural Resources)
- Stunning Time-Lapse of a Dragonfly Growing Wings (Smithsonian Channel)
Stunning Time-Lapse of a Dragonfly Growing Wings
Literature
- Over and Under the Pond by Kate Messner
- A Freshwater Pond (Small Worlds) by Adam Hibbert
Additional Information / Worksheets
- Whose babies live under the water? (images and descriptions of Michigan aquatic insects by Michigan DNR)
- A Children's Guide to Aquatic Insects (11-pg document with great images & descriptions of aquatic insects by Moriya Rufer)
- Pond Minibeasts (3-pg document with labeled drawings of aquatic creatures by Backwoodsmama)
Post-Visit Resources:
Concepts to Reinforce (in addition to the introductory concepts)
- Biodiversity - the variety of life in a habitat or ecosystem
- Herbivore/Omnivore/Carnivore - eats only plants/eats both plants and meat/eats only meat
- Camouflage - the ability to blend in with one's surroundings
- Predator/Prey - the hunter/the hunted
Additional Information (articles, documents, videos, images)
- Diagram of complete vs. incomplete metamorphosis (6-page document that reviews types of metamorphosis and includes worksheet for students
- Figure of complete vs. incomplete metamorphosis
- Video: This is How a Tadpole Transforms into a Frog
This Is How a Tadpole Transforms Into A Frog | The Dodo
Grades 6-8 Resources
The pre-program resources will help introduce students to pond exploration and the post-program resources will help reinforce their experiences.
Pre-Program Resources
Introductory Concepts
- Habitat - place where plants and animals live
- Ecosystem - a community of interacting organisms and their environment. Living things interact with each other and also with non-living things like soil, water and air.
- Adaptation - a trait or behavior that helps an organism survive and reproduce. Can be physical or behavioral.
- Metamorphosis - process some animals go through to become adults
- Photosynthesis - process in which green plants use sunlight to make their own food
Sights and Sounds
- Know your frog calls (DNR Indiana Department of Natural Resources)
- Stunning Time-Lapse of a Dragonfly Growing Wings (Smithsonian Channel)
Stunning Time-Lapse of a Dragonfly Growing Wings
Literature
- Ecosystems - Life in a Pond by Stuart Kallen
- Ponds: Biomes & Ecosystems by Yvonne Franklin
Additional Information (articles, documents, videos, images)
- Whose babies live under the water? (images and descriptions of Michigan aquatic insects by Michigan DNR)
- Pond Minibeasts (3-pg document with labeled drawings of aquatic creatures by Backwoodsmama)
- A Children's Guide to Aquatic Insects (11-pg document with great images & descriptions of aquatic insects by Moriya Rufer)
Post-Program Resources
Concepts to Reinforce (in addition to the introductory concepts)
- Biodiversity - the variety of life in a habitat or ecosystem
- Herbivore/Omnivore/Carnivore - eats only plants/eats both plants and meat/eats only meat
- Camouflage - the ability to blend in with one's surroundings
- Predator/Prey - the hunter/the hunted
- Complete/Incomplete Metamorphosis - 4 stages (egg, larva, pupa, adult) vs. 3 stages (egg, nymph, adult)
- Decomposition - the process of breaking down organic material into simpler parts
Additional Information (articles, documents, videos, images)
- Aquatic Insects: A Teacher's Resource Guide (5-pg document with images and concepts that reinforce pond-program - including metamorphosis and adaptations of insects by Hope Batcheller, Cornell University)
- Predator and Prey: Adaptations and Coevolution in Insects and Plants (Expands on concepts and includes student activity by Sarah Jandricic)
- Adaptations of Insects (14-pg document that includes mouthpart and specific habitat adaptations by Molly Keck, Texas A&M)
- Video: This is How a Tadpole Transforms into a Frog
This Is How a Tadpole Transforms Into A Frog | The Dodo