During the last years of my teaching career, I was fortunate enough to be transitioned to the science lab where I was tasked with developing a science curriculum for grades K-6. One of the units I created was a water unit which brought children to the vernal ponds and water bodies that surrounded our school district. (Now scroll down and move your mouse around for a surprise!)
I began this study in kindergarten, introducing 5-year-olds to the characteristics of a freshwater pond. I felt it essential that they realize there was more to a vernal pond than just the plants and animals they might notice at first sight, like ducks or frogs. Therefore, a large part of the field trip to the pond included scooping the pond water for the unseeable! The children were in awe of the “bugs” we poured out into observable clear containers.