Go out pond dipping to figure out what types of creatures live in the water! Take a close look to see what insects live in the water and think about why they are important to the environment. Make sure to watch for ducks, geese, and other aquatic wildlife like snails and frogs too!
Wetlands are also important freshwater sources for humans as they help clean our water. Want to learn more about this? Check out our hands-on water filtration experiment!
Supplies
Jars or cups (i.e. mason jars)
Tupperware container
Spoon
Net
Magnifying glass
Notebook
Pen or pencil
Make sure to wear clothes that you don't mind getting wet!
Instructions
Find a pond near your house.
Use a jar to scoop up some water and use a net to gather up some aquatic plants or insects. Pour the water and put the plants and insects into the Tupperware container.
Note: Make sure that the child is standing sideways towards the pond, with their feet planted. For small children, get them to lay down.
Make observations about what you see in the Tupperware container. Can you identify any of the plants or insects? Write down your observations in a notebook. There are lots of online resources to help with identifying your wetland creatures.
Release your wetland insects back into the water after you are done identifying them.
Ask Yourself
How do you think the insects survive in the water?
Why are the insects important to have in the pond?
What do each of the insects have in common with each other? What is different?
Are there any other creatures in the pond? What do you think they do?