Pond Community Junior

PROGRAM OUTLINE (2 HOURS)
This program allows the students to examine the interrelationship between non-living things, plants, and animals in a pond community. With the activities in this study, we hope to develop a respect for life, an awareness of the interdependence of living things and an understanding of pond food chains.
The program addresses expectations for the strand "Habitats and Communities". Expectations addressed include-

INTRODUCTION- Food Chain Game
Eighteen wooden signs depicting a variety of pond plants and animals are scattered throughout the playing area. After the rules of the game have been explained, students move through the playing area recording a specific food chain, e.g. plankton, snail, diving beetle, trout. All the food chains are then recorded by connecting string on a summary board to construct a food web. This is an excellent game to get students investigating the interconnectedness of a pond community.

POND VISIT

LIVING COMPONENT- Students use nets to catch a variety of animals that live in the pond. They are encouraged to look for both vertebrates and invertebrates. Emphasis is placed on respect and careful handling of all specimens which are kept in a water tub for observation. Hand lenses and viewing boxes are used for closer observation. Students use a checklist with pictures and handbooks to identify their finds. After collecting, the class is brought together to share special finds.

NON-LIVING COMPONENT- Students measure and record the temperature and depth of the water.
· Students observe and record the movement of the water and the appearance of the bottom of the pond.

PREVISIT PREPARATION
Students should be familiar with:
> characteristics of a pond
· community concept- a variety of living and non-living things in the same area
· interrelationships between living and non-living things
· life cycles ( names of various stages i.e. egg, larva, nymph)
· observation skills

	Education for, in and about the Frontenac Arch Biosphere
	PROGRAM OUTLINE (2 HOURS) This program allows the students to examine the interrelationship between non-living things, plants, and animals in a pond community. With the activities in this study, we hope to develop a respect for life, an awareness of the interdependence of living things and an understanding of pond food chains. The program addresses expectations for the strand "Habitats and Communities". Expectations addressed include- INTRODUCTION- Food Chain Game Eighteen wooden signs depicting a variety of pond plants and animals are scattered throughout the playing area. After the rules of the game have been explained, students move through the playing area recording a specific food chain, e.g. plankton, snail, diving beetle, trout. All the food chains are then recorded by connecting string on a summary board to construct a food web. This is an excellent game to get students investigating the interconnectedness of a pond community. POND VISIT LIVING COMPONENT- Students use nets to catch a variety of animals that live in the pond. They are encouraged to look for both vertebrates and invertebrates. Emphasis is placed on respect and careful handling of all specimens which are kept in a water tub for observation. Hand lenses and viewing boxes are used for closer observation. Students use a checklist with pictures and handbooks to identify their finds. After collecting, the class is brought together to share special finds. NON-LIVING COMPONENT- Students measure and record the temperature and depth of the water. · Students observe and record the movement of the water and the appearance of the bottom of the pond. PREVISIT PREPARATION Students should be familiar with: > characteristics of a pond · community concept- a variety of living and non-living things in the same area · interrelationships between living and non-living things · life cycles ( names of various stages i.e. egg, larva, nymph) · observation skills