Pond Dipping

The awe and wonder invoked by the flora and fauna in the Rachel Keeling garden never fails to amaze us. Children will notice the smallest changes - from minuscule larvae on the underside of a leaf to froglets emerging out of the pond. 
Over the past few weeks children and staff have been observing the pond environment: using magnifiers, information books, nets and trays, We have observed the frogspawn growing and changing into tadpoles and froglets. Children have carefully harvested pond life, observing and identifying creatures such as pond snails, lesser water boatmen and pond skaters. 
Children have become skilled at identifying and carefully handling the residents of our pond. Many children sustain concentration and have become experts, supporting each other, sharing talk and ideas and pondering by the pond!