Pond Lifecycles

Pond Lifecycles

April to October only 
Students will collect animals from a pond within the grounds. They will use magnifiers to observe, identify and group the animals that they found. They will compare life-cycle changes in a variety of living things including amphibians and insects. Threats to forest habitats and the potential impact on the animal species found will be considered in relation to the climate and ecological emergency.

Learning objectives

• to use classification keys to group, identify and name living things from the pond habitat
• to name and understand the different stages of insect and amphibian lifecycles
• consider threats to forest habitats and the potential impact on the animal species found

National science curriculum links
Y5 
Living things and their habitats

• Describe the differences in the life cycles of a mammal, an amphibian, an insect and a bird.
• Describe the life process of reproduction in some plants and animals.

Y6 
Living things and their habitats

• Describe how living things are classified into broad groups according to common observable characteristics and based on similarities and differences, including microorganisms, plants, and animals.
• Give reasons for classifying plants and animals based on specific characteristics.

Evolution and inheritance 

• Recognise that living things produce offspring of the same kind, but normally offspring vary and are not identical to their parents.
• Identify how animals and plants are adapted to suit their environment in different ways and that adaptation may lead to evolution.