Involve children in designing a school pond after they have researched the necessary features. Keep a pond diary as the pond is being created.
Investigate the natural stocking of the pond by conducting weekly sweeps using nets. Record the results using histograms.
Participate in a virtual pond dip like that found at www.naturegrid.org.uk Compare your findings with the virtual activity.
Compare the pond with other local ones. Find out if factors such as temperature, pollution or algae alter the findings.
Join projects such as Bucket Buddies (www.ciese.orgcurriculumbucketproj) to compare your investigation with similar ones from around the world.
Search different zones - above the surface, on it, the margins, underneath plants, the mud at the bottom. Make a model of the pond and record the results on it. Are different types of animals found in different parts?
Compare pond mini-beasts with land mini-beasts. How does the land snail differ from the pond snail?
Study the seasonal patterns of the pond.
