Pond Dipping Adventure

Class 3 became Nature Detectives and explored our pond as part of our Science topic ‘Habitats'.

On June the 16th Miss. Farley told us that we were going pond dipping. I felt really excited because I love science and thought that this would be fun. We had to go through the rules first so that we were all S.A.F.E.
(Stay Away From Edge).

Next we grabbed our books and collected the equipment; long nets, short nets, big white trays, small white trays, magnifying glasses and jars.

We marched down to our eco-area and set up our equipment. We filled each tray with at least 4cms of water. We took it in turns to try and fish out water boatmen, backswimmers and newts.

 

 

 


To our surprise and delight we caught many species. Some we had not expected and some that were unknown to us.
What was most unexpected for me was the amount of life that we found in the plants.

 

 

At first I was not sure what this type of species was. I knew it was a skin but why was it in the water?
We found out though research activities on the computer and using identification sheets that this was actually a skin of a dragonfly nymph.
The dragon fly nymph is a young dragonfly that lives in pond water for up to four or five years. It can shed its skin up to 12 times. When it is going to shed its skin for the final time it climbs up onto a reed to dry out just like you and I do when we come out of a swimming pool! Once it has shed its skin out of the water it becomes a dragonfly and will live for up to two months as an adult.

 

 

 

 


This is an almost fully grown dragonfly nymph that Thomas managed to catch in his net. Thank you Thomas!

 

 

 

This is a dragonfly nymph that is about to

complete its metamorphosis into an adult dragonfly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Here are some other species that we caught on our adventure.

 

To our astonishment this big newt caught the smaller newt in its mouth and shook it underwater!!!!!

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Tom and Oliver scooped out two water snails.

A pond snail and a rams horn snail.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

This is a True damselfly nymph

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Everyone managed to sneak these water boatmen and backswimmers out of the water and into their trays. There were hundreds of them!

 

 

 

 



We all felt proud of our collections and it was impossible for us to take our eyes off all of the magnificent creatures.

Year 3 had to sketch and name all of our finds. Year 4 had to keep a tally chart of all the different species that were caught.

Once we had finished our research it was only fair to return the pond life to its rightful home.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Abigail had kindly brought into school tadpoles and a froglet.

We introduced them to their new home.

Thank you Abigail. I'm sure that they will have a brilliant time.

 


When we returned to the classroom we helped Miss. Farley fill in a questionnaire as part of the Big Pond Dip 2010 survey. We scored 52 points. These results prove that we have a brilliant pond!


This was the best exploration I've ever had.

 

 

 

I have always liked Science but this was my most favourite lesson.

Who would have thought that ‘Habitats' could be so exciting!!!!


By Ethan Johnson Year 3