Educational Resources

Teaching Ideas for Ponds

 

Using ponds to teach adaptation to aquatic habitats.

This lesson includes a lesson plan, starter activity and plenary activity. It is aimed at students aged 11-14 although it can easily be adapted for both younger and older students.

This lesson encourges students to observe the physiological adpatations required by aquatic invertebrates. The starter activity focuses on mobility in water, whilst the main focus of the lesson is in respiration. There is also a simple game of Pond Bingo for which cards can be downloaded

Downloads

Adaptations to ponds
Lesson Plan, adaptations to ponds [Adobe PDF, 177 Kb]

Pond Bingo
Lesson activity pond bingo [Adobe PDF, 240 Kb]

The importance of water

This lesson is aimed at more able and post 16 students. In this lesson students are encouraged to understand how the chemistry of water makes it so essential for life on earth with specific relevenace to pond ecology.

Downloads

Starter Activity: Water Chemistry
Starter Activity: Water Chemistry [Adobe PDF, 18 Kb]

Why does ice float? encouraging students to think about why Ice is less dense than water and introducing the concept of hydrogen bonding

Lesson Plan: Water Chemistry
Lesson Plan: Water Chemistry [Adobe PDF, 35 Kb]

A circus of practical activities and demonstrations that are linked to understanding a range of concepts such as adaptations of freshwater invertebrates, behaviour and feeding relationships alongside the abiotic advantages of temperature.

Teachers Notes: Water Chemistry
Teachers Notes: Water Chemistry [Adobe PDF, 68 Kb]

Further advice, support and background information for teachers delivering this aspect of the curriculum.

Further information

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