Introduction to Ponds - Specimen Study

Transcription

1 Science Unit: Lessn 11: Summary: Lcal Habitats Intrductin t Pnds - Specimen Study In this lessn, students rtate thrugh 3 statins (pnd plants, pnd animals and pnd bugs) t study cllected plants, phts, and/r preserved specimens (rented frm a museum). Skills intrduced in this lessn are helpful prerequisites fr a pnd study field trip (described in Lessn 13 f this unit). Science skills: Schl Year: 2013/2014 Develped fr: Develped by: Grade level: Duratin f lessn: Making bservatins, recrding bservatins Sir William Osler Elementary Schl, Vancuver Schl District Linda Herbert (scientist); Jessica Rsenblatt and Carl Tam (teachers) Presented t grade 2/3/4; apprpriate fr grades 1 7 with age apprpriate mdificatins 1 hur and 20 minutes Ntes: This lessn plan suggests a cmbinatin f live plant specimens, rented museum specimens, and phtgraphs. (Using real specimens greatly enhances the experience and is highly recmmended!) Hwever, phtgraphs alne can als be used. It is helpful t have an adult t assist with each statin (3 statins). See lessn detail fr imprtant instructins n cllecting plants (e.g., plants shuld nt be cllected frm parks). Animal specimens can als be brrwed frm a lcal cllege, university r museum. (Fr this lessn, we used pnd bug displays frm the Beaty Bidiversity Museum. Visit: fr mre infrmatin abut their teaching resurces.) The animal statin requires careful supervisin t ensure the specimens are handled apprpriately. Museum lans shuld be arranged well in advance! Objectives Students will: 1. Discver what lives in/near lcal pnds. 2. Make bservatins f plants, animals and bugs. Backgrund Infrmatin The purpse f this lessn is t intrduce students t the rganisms that they may encunter r bserve n their fieldtrip t Jerich Pnd (Lessn 4). Students will bserve a variety f plants, bugs and ther animals present in and arund Jerich pnd. The bservatins are guided by the wrksheet such that students will be intrduced t sme f the characteristics bilgists use t identify these rganisms. These skills will be added t in the next lessn where students will learn Lessn SRP The Scientist in Residence Prgram TM. All Rights Reserved.

2 t identify aquatic rganisms by using a dichtmus key and t identify pnd habitat birds by sight and call. Vcabulary Habitat: Micrhabitat: Pnd: Water clumn: The place where a ppulatin lives. A habitat must meet the needs an rganism requires t survive (fd, water, shelter, temperature, xygen, etc.). A tiny habitat within a larger habitat. A small, clsed bdy f freshwater. Smaller than a lake. Area in the pnd where rganisms are fully submerged (excluding the pnd bttm). Materials Wrksheets Pencils and pencil crayns 5-6 different types f pnd plants, 2-3 specimens f each: rushes, grasses, flating plants, algae, duckweed, etc. (see belw fr detail) Animal specimens rented frm a museum (ptinal). See details belw. Bug specimens rented frm a museum (see belw) Bucket t stre and transprt plant specimens, if using Statin Infrmatin Sheets (included) Trays with sides t examine wet plant specimens. Pnd pictures/slideshw Clth r plastic sheet t cver table fr animal statin, if using live animals. Plastic sheet t cver table fr plant statin De-chlrinated r distilled water t rinse plant specimens In the Classrm Intrductry Discussin 1. Review r intrduce the cncept f a habitat. Tell students that tday we are ging t begin ur study f pnd habitats. What is a pnd? Wh has ever been t a pnd? Ask fr ideas and then shw slides/pictures f different types f pnds. (If pssible include a picture f the pnd that will be visited n the field trip). What lives in a pnd? Brainstrm and recrd n bard. Can shw slides/pictures f pnd rganisms that have been named. Talk abut where each rganism lives t intrduce the varius pnd areas and micrhabitats. Shw a slide f the pnd diagram and have students label it n their wrksheet as they identify the different areas. 2. Review safe and respectful handling f museum specimens, if using. Outline the rules fr any specific specimens brrwed. In general, if students are allwed t tuch specimens remind them hw fragile the specimens are and that nly adults will pick up and mve the specimens. Lessn SRP The Scientist in Residence Prgram TM. All Rights Reserved.

3 Students shuld nly tuch specimens lightly, with their pinky finger. If they want t strke the fur r feathers, it shuld be dne lightly and nly in the directin that the fur/feathers grw, never in the ppsite directin. Remind students nt t mve, pen, pull r pke any part f the specimens (including the beaks, claws, legs, wings r tails). 3. Explain that students will fcus n the science skills f making and recrding bservatins. Safety Guidelines Plant Allergies. If any students have plant allergies they can use pictures t study the rganisms r wrk with a partner and nly the partner will tuch the plants. Remind students t be respectful f thers wh may have allergies. Hand washing. Tell students that pnd water can be cntaminated with bacteria frm duck feces and thus they shuld wash their hands befre tuching their faces r eating and immediately after the lessn. Depending n the plants and animals used, it may be apprpriate fr students t wash their hands in between statins t. Science Activity Activity Title: What Lives in a Pnd? Purpse f Activity: Students will learn abut a variety f pnd rganisms, fcusing n nes likely t be seen n the fieldtrip. Set-up prir t experiment: 1. Ideally, arrange fr an adult at each statin t assist the students with their bservatins (especially with primary students). The animal specimens rented frm a museum will require clse supervisin t ensure prper handling. 2. Cllect materials fr the three statins: a) Pnd Plants Plants shuld nt be cllected frm parks - nt nly des it have the ptential t cause eclgical harm, there are als bylaws prhibiting this type f activity in mst cities. Live specimens can nly be cllected frm a private pnd and with permissin. If using live specimens, 5-6 different types f pnd plants shuld be cllected prir t the lessn (rushes, grasses, flating plants, algae, duckweed, etc.), including 2-3 specimens f each, depending n grup size. Plants shuld be cllected as clse t the lessn as pssible and kept in a bucket f pnd water. If the pnd water is quite dirty r likely t be cntaminated with duck feces, the plants shuld be rinsed and stred in clean, de-chlrinated water (nt tap water as the chlrine in it is harmful t plants). Use phts f plants if live specimens cannt be cllected r purchased. Lessn SRP The Scientist in Residence Prgram TM. All Rights Reserved.

4 b) Pnd Animals The fllwing animal specimens were rented frm Beaty Bidiversity Museum: Mallard (whle duck, wing) Nrthern pintail (whle duck, wing) Green-winged teal (whle duck, wing) Cmmn raven Nrthwestern crw Raccn Pictures f the animal specimens abve, as well as the fllwing animals, were als used: American wigen (duck) Western pnd turtle Red-winged blackbird Beaver Muskrat Canada gse Great blue hern Bullfrg (this intrduced species is cmmn in Metr Vancuver). As much as pssible, specimens and pictures shuld be tailred t the specific pnd yu plan t visit. Pictures shwing specific features f the animals can augment the museum specimens. c) Pnd Bugs Arrange museum lans well in advance - these displays are quite ppular. Methds and Instructins: 1. Divide the class int three grups (students will travel as a grup t each f the three statins). 2. Ask students t use the first 5 minutes at each statin t explre all the specimens and phtgraphs and discuss them with their grup members. (The adult at each statin can lead the discussin and give a brief verview f rganisms present at the statin, if apprpriate). 3. Students will then have 10 minutes t wrk independently t draw and describe ne rganism f their chice n their wrksheet (see detailed instructins n each wrksheet, included). Clsure Discussin 1. What did yu like best abut tday s lessn? 2. What did yu learn abut pnd plants? Bugs? Animals? 3. Discuss specific rganisms and where they might be fund in the pnd. Hw des the pnd habitat meet the rganism s needs? Lessn SRP The Scientist in Residence Prgram TM. All Rights Reserved.

5 References 1. Acrn, Jhn Bugs f British Clumbia. Lne Pine Publishing. 2. Campbell, Wayne et al British Clumbia Birds. Lne Pine Publishing. 3. Eder, Tamara and Dn Pattie. Mammals f British Clumbia. Lne Pine Publishing. 4. McClskey, Erin and Gregry Kennedy. British Clumbia Nature Guide. Lne Pine Publishing. 5. St. Jhn, Alan. Reptiles f British Clumbia. Lne Pine Publishing. 6. Images fr leaf shape handuts adapted frm leaf mrphlgy.svg frm Wikimedia Cmmns ( This file is licensed under the Creative Cmmns Attributin-Share Alike 3.0 Unprted license. Extensin f Lessn Plan 1. Students can chse ne pnd insects r animal t research further. 2. Experiment t examine hw gammarus (an aquatic rganism) is affected by temperature. See Animal Grwth and Changes Unit, Lessn 2: Hw des temperature affect animals? Lessn SRP The Scientist in Residence Prgram TM. All Rights Reserved.

6 WHAT LIVES IN A POND? Label the pnd habitat using the labels belw bttm surface surrundings water clumn edge Brainstrm. What d yu think lives in a pnd? Lessn SRP The Scientist in Residence Prgram TM. All Rights Reserved.

7 POND PLANTS Pick 1 plant t bserve. Draw a picture and describe it. What clur (r clurs) is it? Is the clur slid r is there a pattern? If there is a pattern describe the pattern: What size are the leaves? What shape are the leaves? D the leaves have smth edges, lbes r teeth? Are there many leaves r few leaves? Hw are the leaves arranged n the stem? What pattern are the leaf veins? Tw mre bservatins Lessn SRP The Scientist in Residence Prgram TM. All Rights Reserved.

8 POND BUGS Pick 1 bug t bserve. Draw a picture and describe it. Use the magnifiers t help yu see better. Hw big is it? Des it have legs? Hw many? Des it have feet? What d they lk like? Des it have a tail? wings? antennae? Describe them: Tw mre bservatins D yu think it swims, flies, walks? Why? Lessn SRP The Scientist in Residence Prgram TM. All Rights Reserved.

9 POND ANIMALS Pick ne animal t describe Name f animal What size is it? What kind f cat des it have? Fur, feathers, scales? Describe it: What clur(s) is it? Is the clur slid r is there a pattern?: Des it have legs? Hw many? Des it have feet? What d they lk like? Des it have fins? A tail? Wings? Antennae? A beak? Smething else? Describe: Tw mre bservatins Predict what type f micrhabitat d yu think it might live in? Explain why: Lessn SRP The Scientist in Residence Prgram TM. All Rights Reserved.