Identifying Pond Water Organisms and Pond Health

Students will observe pond water to identify different microorganisms. Students will work in pairs and view the pond water under a microscope. Students will need to draw diagrams of the organisms and use a guide to identify the organisms and their Kingdom. Students will then determine what characteristics each organisms has to place it in its Kingdom. Students will than continue to observe the pond water to identify indicator species to detemrine if the water is hleathy or polluted.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Organism Reclassification

Students will attend a trip to the Toronto Zoo in order to observe certain organisms and speak with professionals caretakers. The students will be tasked with the hypothetical scenario that certain organisms that are at the zoo are being suggested by a group of scientists to be reclassified due to new discoveries in genetics. The students will need to conduct research and complete observations to determine if the new proposed classification should be applied or if the current classification should remain. This activity was adapted from a Toronto Zoo activity which looks at concepts in grade 11 Biology. The Toronto Zoo activities are also posted below.