Transcript Dipping Into Our Vernal Pool

Dipping Into Our Vernal
Pool
Or…
Exploring “Wicked Big
Puddles”
AIM Participants:
 Jennifer
Jendzejec-third grade teacher; clinical
instructor-Washington Oak School
 Greg Kniseley-professor; course instructor-Rhode
Island College
 Deborah Kolling-third grade teacher; clinical
instructor-Washington Oak School
Research Questions:
 Exactly
what is the “wicked big puddle” on our
playground?
 Is it safe?
 Should we protect it?
 Are there more of these puddles? Where?
Background:
In the past, students have questioned
the fact that they’re not able to play
on a large section of the playground.
The reason provided: a large pool of
water forms in that area at various
times of the year and students are to
avoid it.
Hypothesis:
 The
standing body of water on our playground is
not a pond, but a vernal pool. Why?
 *It is an open body of water smaller than ¼ acre in
size.
 *It holds water for less than six months a year.
 *It is capable of supporting and providing habitat
for aquatic lifeforms.
*RI Fresh Water Wetlands Act
Standards
 Science
Grade Level Expectations
 Reading/Language Arts GLEs
 Math GLEs
Possible Types for Data
Digital photographs of the pool over time
 Location of the pool (GPS)

Pool Characteristics
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o Length, width, area, average depth, and
approximate volume
o pH
o water color
o dissolved oxygen content
o water temperature
o pool bottom type (peat, leaf litter, mud, sand,
gravel, cobbles, bedrock)
o presence of inlet and/or outlet to the pool
Habitat Conditions
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o Distance to nearest: road, building, lawn, woods
o Tree canopy cover over pool (percent)
o Vegetation types within pool (percent)
o Vegetation types within 100 feet of pool (percent)
o Pool type: woods depression, open field, drainage
system,
quarry or rocky area, swamp, coastal pond,
bog,
impoundment, man-made dug pool,
other
o General description of pool
o Presence of inlet and/or outlet to pool
Biological Conditions
o Observe vernal pool organisms over
time
and seasons

o Observe and photograph animal
behaviors
over time and seasons
vernal pool
animals observed.

o Monitor populations of species
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Data Transformation
Charts, tables, graphs,
maps
 Digital images
 Sequencing photos over
seasons
 GPS/Google maps of the
perimeter of the pool over
time
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Camera Usage
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Digital photographs of pool
over time
Animated GIF
Digital photographs of
organisms
Power Point presentation to
community
Students utilizing cameras to
capture evidence during
investigations (FOSS Water
Kit)
Photograph students engaged
in hands on activities for
assessment and reflection