Have you ever had one of those school projects that just seemed to grow and morph into something else...well, a really "cool" learning experience?

Our mini-pond/swamp habitat is one such project.



Honestly, this is a project we started with our Jr. FIRST Lego League team last August, and I never cleaned it up.  So, it sat on our patio all winter, and, now, it has become my daughter's pet project.  (It was our swamp to help the children remember how coal is formed.)

We have started tracking chemical and temperature information on a weekly basis. 

First, we used pond water testing strips to test the ph, nitrite, and nitrates. 



Here is a copy of the water testing worksheets we created and used, including an explanation of the tests and what the levels indicate.

Next, we have started logging the temperature – outside temp, temperature at the surface and temperature at the bottom.  The last time we measured, it was 56 degrees Fahrenheit outside, 66 degrees on the surface of the water and 62 degrees at the bottom. (A much larger temperature difference than I expected for such an enclosed area.)



We then made a slide of the pond water and looked at it under the microscope.

My daughter also drew a picture of what she observed and recorded the date and temperatures on the same page.



Lastly, she added to the habitat.  A cutting of ivy from a nearby pot was placed in the pond to see if it would take root.  And, a few rocks were added, as she wants to turn it into a (temporary) toad habitat if the water level goes down!

Although our house sits on a small lake/large pond, we've had fun creating our own mini-pond habitat.  So, if you only have a small space outside and want to study pond life, this is a fun alternative.

Tips for creating a mini-pond habitat:

·    You'll need an old aquarium and screen top.  Check Freecycle, yard sales or a
    Goodwill.  Note:  We did have a screen top on the habitat, but have decided to remove it
    – after all, real ponds don't have covers on them!  However, if you have young ones
    about, please do keep the cover on.  You might want to consider placing a heavy stone
    on top to keep little fingers out!
·    Fill the bottom with 2" of sand.  (If there is a drainage hole at the bottom, you'll want to
     plug it.)
·    Layer leaves, sticks, acorns, fern fronds (if you can find some), and other "yard" debris
     on top of the sand.
·    Cover with a layer of dirt.
·    Add a few inches of water.
·    Let sit for months!
·    I recommend starting this at the beginning of the warm months.  Unfortunately, our
    aquarium cracked over the cold winter months due to freezing and thawing.  However, a
    little duct tape will take care of the leaks!

Here's a good link with information on starting a pond "school" project.


Thank you for stopping by this week!

Michelle

Michelle and her husband have been homeschooling for 10 years.  They are the owners of Treasure Box Press.  Michelle holds a Master's degree in Child Development and Family Studies. She serves as the Judge Advisor for the North Carolina FIRST (www.usfirst.org) Lego League and a judge for the www.FIRST.org World Festival.  She is the author of numerous Sam's Science Adventures, including "RIC: Robots in the Classroom", all available through www.TreasureBoxPress.com.  She spent 15 years in the biotechnology industry before turning her heart toward home.

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