Pond Dipping: A recount of a boy and his mother esploring their local pond (Collins Big Cat Phonics)

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If you’re not in a public park or green area then please make sure you’ve got permission from the owner of your chosen pond. What you will need: Ponds and small lakes support an extremely rich biodiversity of fascinating organisms. Many people have tried pond-dipping and encountered a few unfamiliar creatures, such as dragonfly nymphs and caddisfly larvae. However, there is a far richer world of microscopic organisms, such as diatoms, desmids and rotifers, which is revealed in this book. Anyone with access to a microscope can open up this hidden dimension. Identification keys are provided so that readers can identify, explore and study this microscopic world. There are also many suggestions of ways in which readers can then make original contributions to our knowledge and understanding of pond ecology. Return everything you catch when you have finished identifying them. Hold the container just under the surface of the water and slowly remove making sure all the creatures have been returned. Frog, dragonfly, damselfly and mosquito lifecycles could be further explored depending on which of these animals you find in your pond. Movement

Working in groups of three to an observation tray, the students should show you the ‘sideways on, knees bent’ position once more, before starting the activity. They can take it in turns to approach the pond and do a sweep with the net as you demonstrated. Once they have emptied the net into the tray, the next student can take the net and repeat the process. The first student can start looking in the tray and separating and identifying the creatures while the other dips. Repeat again for the third student so the whole group has a turn. Important! Be sure not to cross private property when pond dipping and to be respectful of sensitive nature areas when pond dipping. Step 3: Fill a tray with pond water.A pond is small, still and shallow body of water that can be made by people or by nature. Look for a pond that is easy to access and that kids can easily dip nets into without falling in. When you have found a pond find a spot near the edge to set up all your gear. If you do spot something, scoop some water into one of the observation dishes and transfer the invertebrate to the dish using the plastic spoon. Do this gently, don’t tip the creatures in from height as it may harm them. You could take part in the OPAL Water Survey, the ‘Big Spawn Count’ or the ‘Big Pond Dip’ Recording Sheets

Like any activity that takes place in nature. It is so important to always be safe and ensure the safety of the pond dippers as well as the safety of the wildlife you will be handling. It’s also important to be considerate of nature and leave an area as you find it.Pond dipping is a fun and natural way to teach children how to safely manage and take risks as well as teaching them about the different overlooked creatures that make up a pond. It is important for children to learn the value of conserving the natural environment. Collecting pots– Although it’s perfectly fine to observe your catch directly in the tray, individual pots, particularly those with a magnifying lid, are helpful for looking more closely at individual specimens.