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(Frozen) Pond Life Class with NVLA

On the morning of December 12th, 2013, trail group B from Napa Valley Language Academy headed off to their Pond Life class, but this was not your typical Pond class. Due to the below freezing temperatures that we've had since the 7th, there was a 3" layer of ice covering the pond! This didn't stop these students from doing some hands-on data collection.
Chaperone and students determine the turbidity.

Searching for life in the pond

Measuring the temperature and depth of the pond.

In addition to collecting data, the students had a chance to observe nature, learn about haikus, and write one. Here are a few examples of what they came up with:

The pond never moves
It will always be in place
Yet, I will travel
-Mario Calderon

The pond is frozen
Yet trees around jump with life
But all life seems calm
-Azrael Hillyer

After exploring the pond and writing they headed into the lab to discover what microscopic life might live in the pond. Luckily we have a tank of pond water in our lab that is full of life, where as the 38 degree water from the pond would not have much life in it. The students found ostracods, oligochaetes,diatoms, volvox, parameciums, and more.


Here's what some students had to say about Pond Life class: "I really enjoyed the class. The pond was beautiful with snow and ice, and I liked getting to see all of the organisms you cannot see with your eyes.", "It was great looking at all of the life in the pond, both at the pond and through the microscopes.", "It was amazing to see microorganisms and how small they are."

Comments

  1. Kelly DeckerDecember 14, 2013 at 11:40 PM

    http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=GArOKgo2vbM I also found a flatworm like in this video. (I couldn't relocate it for the monitor, but we did find an oligochaete.)

    ReplyDelete
  2. Sierra Outdoor SchoolApril 15, 2014 at 11:36 AM

    Thanks for sharing Kelly :-) It was great having you in class.

    ReplyDelete
  3. pond repairSeptember 21, 2015 at 5:50 AM

    To make a nursery precious stone out of somewhat, cumbersome space with taking innovative capacity, organizing, avidness to work with the conditions you have Pond Liner Repair makes you prepared to make your pond worth seen as it prevent spills and oversee fabulousness of pond.

    ReplyDelete

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