Life in a Pond Virtual Field Trip

Grades K-5

A pond is much more than frogs and fish! It demonstrates a beautiful web of life from algae and microscopic organisms to insect larvae and amphibians. In this virtual field trip, we will learn how to make a simple pond net, read about what makes a pond a pond, and go on a virtual pond tour. Students will be given a list of simple equipment to use to successfully collect pond animals, and will be shown how to safely collect and release these animals. In a live meeting, we will share our experiences, get a close up look at pond invertebrates (animals without backbones), do a scientific drawing, and experiment with the surface tension of water.

Field trip requirements

Prior to the live meeting:

• Watch the pre-field trip video
• If students are able to visit a pond before our field trip, encourage them to do so.
• Use or review this observation sheet.
• Use or review this pond identification sheet to help them identify what they found.

Resources for at home pond visit

• Make a pond net from panty hose: 
• How to use a dip net.
• An inventory of aquatic pond life that may be observed.

Students should come to the live meeting with the following materials:

• Cup or small container of water
• Paper clip (at least two)
• Paper towel
• A sheet of blank paper for drawing
• A pencil

During the live meeting we will:

• Share students’ at home pond explorations, if they have gone.
• Show live pond animals up close with an online microscope. 
• Do a scientific drawing of a pond animal.
• Learn about surface tension and pond life. We will look at a photo of a water strider on the pond surface. Students will then explore surface tension by attempting to float a paperclip in a cup of water.

Further resources

• Book read aloud video for Grade K about life in a pond:
• Online guide to identifying pond creatures with lots of information about each kind, upper elementary level and above, but appropriate for families too!
• Youtube about surface tension and paper clip: Note to teacher: Please DO NOT share this video until after the live stream session!
• Make a water strider with wire!
• Animal Release poem – This is a poem I say before returning animals to the pond:

Swim away, float away, dive away, hop!
You’re free to go, I will not stop
You from living your life
You deserve to be free!
Thank you for sharing this time with me.

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