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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Reading the River

For Teachers 5th - 8th
In collaborative groups, young ecologists measure the temperature, pH, and dissolved oxygen for three different freshwater samples. They examine each sample with a microscope and record observations on the microorganisms in the pond...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

ExplorA-Pond: 6th Grade Area and Random Number Tables

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders estimate surface area of a pond using a random number table.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Project Conclusion

For Teachers 5th - 11th
In this cells worksheet learners answer questions regarding the characteristics of living organisms observed during a pond water survey.  Students draw diagrams of a food chain. 
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Ecosystem Field Trip

For Teachers 2nd - 6th
Students investigate the environment by participating in a class trip. In this pond ecosystem instructional activity, students define a list of vocabulary terms associated with ponds such as invertebrate and metamorphosis. Students...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Water Survey

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students identify and describe various organisms living in a pond water environment. They describe the characteristics of living things. Students compare and contrast organisms created by asexual reproduction and sexual reproduction....
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What's in the Water?

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students make a water sampler and use proper techniques to collect water.They write a essay explaining the inter-relationship of factors such as temperature, pH, dissolved oxygen, nitrates, and phosphates in a lake that might cause a...
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Lesson Plan
Virginia Department of Education

Freshwater Food Chains

For Teachers 9th - 12th Standards
What's in the water? Encourage your class to further explore this question and learn about pond ecosystems, food chains, and food webs as they complete this hands-on activity. They view the environment from a new perspective after...
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Pond Water Survey

For Students 5th - 10th
In this pond ecosystem worksheet, students observe different species of plankton found in a pond water sample. They draw pictures of 5 specimens then describe them in detail.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

What Critters Tell Us About Water Quality: A Macroinvertebrate Lesson

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students explore our ecosystem by investigating the quality of our water. In this aquatic insect lesson, students examine a group of random insects collected from different streams and ponds in the area. Students record their...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Purification

For Teachers 3rd - 5th
Students develop an understanding and appreciation of water purification techniques and their implications for health maintenance.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Living Organisms as Indicators of Pollutants in Fresh Water Ecosystems

For Teachers 9th - 10th
Students observe the effects of pollution on living organisms. In this pollution lesson plan, students observe fresh water Hydra and look at their structures and movement. They place samples of pond and lake water on the Hydra and...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Life in a Drop of Water

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students examine the structure, function, and characteristics of microscopic organisms that inhabit freshwater through collection of water samples and observation through microscopes.
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Worksheet
Curated OER

Effect of pH on the Organisms of Tule Ponds At Tyson Lagoon

For Students 5th - 8th
In this aquatic organism instructional activity, learners measure the pH of household solutions and of pond water samples. They compare these to tolerance charts for aquatic macro-invertebrates to complete 5 charts or short answer...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microbes From a Hay Infusion

For Teachers 6th - 8th
Students observe, over time, microbes such as amoebas, protozoa, rotifers and insect larva. They create a hay infusion culture using pond water then sample and record organisms found over a two week period.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Devising a Set of Experiments to Test Water for Dissolved Substances

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Students work together to test water samples for pollutants. They design data tables to collect and record their observations. They complete discussion questions to end the lesson.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Pond Life Identification Kit

For Teachers 9th - 12th
Learners explore ecology and biodiversty. They use the wet-mount procedure to make several slides to view using the microscope and draw what they see.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water Pollution Graphing Activity

For Teachers 2nd - 8th
Young scholars describe and identify the link between land use activities within a watershed and water quality. They evaluate the quality of a "water sample" ( a bag of skittles), graph their results, and form a hypothesis about the land...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Investigating Animals in Water

For Teachers 3rd - 7th
Students observe small animal activity. They identify local water animals and describe the habitats where water animals can be found. Students collect samples to observe in the classroom.
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Water: The Liquid of Life

For Teachers 6th
Sixth graders complete a lesson on the properties, types and amounts of water on Earth. In groups, they travel between stations to identify water resources in Illinois and pollution sources. They complete the lesson with a field trip...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Microfishing

For Teachers 4th - 12th
Students use a simple method to collect living microorganisms from natural and/or artificial environments and develop skills in microscopy, observation, drawing, speculation, hypothesizing, oral presentation, and raising questions.
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Activity
DiscoverE

Working with Watermills

For Teachers 6th - 12th
Water is a powerful force; harness it through watermills. The task at hand is to create a simple watermill that functions in flowing water for at least three minutes. Scholars work together in teams to design and construct such a...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Determination of Overall Water Quality Using a Quantitative Macroinvertebrate Survey

For Teachers 9th - 12th
High schoolers examine water samples from a local stream. They identify various types of macroinvertebrates found in that water ecosystem and perform a quantitative macroinvertebrate survey to determine the stream's water quality.
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Activity
Foundation for Water & Energy Education

How Can a Dam Affect a River? Activity A

For Teachers 4th - 6th
Written for Washington state students in life science, this lesson provides an opportunity to examine the residents of local freshwater habitats. You or the class collects a water sample, and learners try to examine what organisms live...
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Lesson Plan
Curated OER

Poems and Songs: Rivers and Ponds

For Teachers 1st - 4th
Students explore songs and poems related to the animals, habitats, and activities on rivers and ponds. They listen to song clips, explore various websites, read poems and song lyrics, complete worksheets, and define key vocabulary words.