Pond Dipping

Learning objectives

Investigate life in the pond and adaptations of the pond organisms to their environment.

Opportunities for

Curriculum

• Sc 2a health and growth
• Sc 2b plants and animals in the local environment
• Sc 2c variety of living things
• Sc 4b habitats
• Sc 5b lifecycles
• Sc 6a adaptations

Learning skills

• Group work
• Assessing risk
• Communication
• Problem solving

Starter

Introduction to Lepe – sense of place, what we will do, what do you think you will find, where will we find them, what risks are there.

Main

Dip for creatures in the pond, identify a range of animals using simple keys and discuss movement, adaptations and lifecycles.

Review

Recap on species, movement and adaptations, questions and answers, true or false game.

Expectations

Most children will – be able to identify and name a number of species found in the pond, use a simple key with help, describe some animal adaptations.

Some children will have progressed further and will – be able to identify species using a key, understand species interactions and lifecycles.

Additional activities

These activities can be built into this session as extension tasks or fun additions:  

food webs, microscope investigation, ‘Who am I?’ game, comparison to woodland and meadow habitats.

Resources

White trays, nets, tanks, ID keys, magnifying pots, plastic spoons, magnifying glasses (additional: nets, games equipment, food web, microscopes).

Post visit ideas

Adaptations worksheet, compare habitat to school grounds, watch tadpoles turning into frogs and investigate other pond creature lifecycles.