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Studying Pond Creatures

Elementary

Description

This outdoor inquiry explores the fascinating underwater world of a local pond.  Using simple tools, students are able to practice the science skills of observation and classification to locate and describe aquatic organisms. The lesson places a strong emphasis on responsibility and respect for the natural area being visited which also strengthens conservation values in young children.  Pre-visit and post-visit classroom projects supplement the in-depth learning experience where students deepen their understanding of:

  • Food webs
  • Animal and plant adaptations
  • Invertebrate life cycles

General Assessment

Recommendation of how and where to use it

This lesson encourages scientific exploration and supports learning related to habitat relationships, adaptations and wetland ecology.  The activity would also be a great addition to units that are examining the diversity of life.   

An important component of this resource is the message that we must all "become pond stewards".  A number of citizenship ideas are presented such as collecting litter or developing interpretative signs to inform the local community about the values of these habitats. A school wide conservation project could involve students in working with an organization like Ducks Unlimited Canada to “adopt” a local pond and develop the site as a community green space as a model of sustainability in action.

Relevant Curriculum Units

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  • Alberta
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        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
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        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions
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        • Earth Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interactions.
        • Exploring connections strengthens our understandings of relationships to help us make meaning of the world.
        • Investigating change and the diversity of Earth’s systems helps us to develop understandings of the conditions necessary to sustain life.
        • Living Systems: Understandings of the living world, Earth, and space are deepened through investigating natural systems and their interaction
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        • Wetland Ecosystems
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        • Science 2: Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
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        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
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        • Science 5: Multicellular organisms have organ systems that enable them to survive and interact within their environment.
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        • Science 5: Multicellular organisms have organ systems that enable them to survive and interact within their environment.
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        • Science 2: Living things have life cycles adapted to their environment
        • Science 2: Water is essential to all living things and it cycles through the environment
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      • Science
        • Step 4Relevant matches
        • Science 3: Living things are diverse, can be grouped, and interact in their ecosystems
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        • Science 4: All living things sense and respond to their environment
    • Grade 5
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        • Science 5: Multicellular organisms have organ systems that enable them to survive and interact within their environment.

Themes Addressed

Ecosystems (2)

  • Appreciating the Natural World
  • Biodiversity