Life in a drop of pond water

http://www.sciencenetlinks.com/lessons.cfm?DocID=378

A lesson plan for Grade 5 Science

Provider: American Association for the Advancement of Science

About this resource

Appropriate grades

5

Subjects

science (environmental science), thinking skills (research skills)

Provider

American Association for the Advancement of Science

Legal

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In this lesson, students investigate the living creatures in a drop of pond water under magnification. This lesson, the second in a two part series challenges students to observe microscopic organisms found in pond water using a hand lens, 30x magnification, and 100x magnification. Observing these organisms should stimulate discussions about how single-celled living things might satisfy their needs for food, water, and air. They can do this by comparing the needs of macroscopic organisms to those of microscopic ones. It is important to remember that while watching microorganisms is informative, it is not always likely that students will be able to observe these tiny cells performing such functions as dividing or taking in food. Thus direct observation should be supplemented with films of living cells or by using prepared materials. Science NetLinks provides student handouts, links to “A Virtual Pond Dip” and the “Pond Life Identification Kit,” a list of materials for the observation, and detailed instructions for completing the activity. This lesson also contains links to other web resources that help them in their exploration and observations about pond life.