Pond Safety Solutions For Your School.
Inspirational Pond Study Guide for Teachers (Primary Level)
by Paula Morris, B.ED. (Hons), EYPS
01 299 877008
info@pondsforschools.co.uk
www.pondsforschools.co.uk
Dip in!
Welcome to your Pond Dipping Pack from ‘Ponds for Schools’.
We are delighted to offer you some support and advice on how to use a pond effectively with the
children in your school or setting, whatever their age.
ALL children appear to love pond dipping; it would be rare for a child to not be engaged when taken
to a pond, even those who don’t like touching or looking too closely become engrossed in the
process.
Health and Safety
Before you visit the pond, a full risk assessment
of the area will need to take place, school or
setting Health and Safety Policy read, extra
adults sought. There is some sound advice on
the ROSPA website
http://www.rospa.com/leisuresafety/Info/WaterSaf
ety/pond-dipping.pdf and of course our own
website
http://www.pondsforschools.co.uk/home/index.ph
p/safety-info
About Ponds for Schools
We make completely safe, ready to fit, child safe ponds. Having made
over 1 00 pond covers for schools we have seen a lot of school ponds and
spent a lot of time thinking about how to make the ultimate school pond.
Our ponds are designed to be easy to maintain with a sustainable habitat
and a huge variety of life. We think this will inspirational children to do a
lot more than just pond dip. To top it off our ponds have attractive safety
covers making it possible for children to have access to them all of the
time, with secure opening sections for those exciting pond dipping
sessions.
“So many school ponds are too big, overgrown
and neglected – unattractive and unappealing
to all but the most adventurous children. Only
the most intrepid teachers go near and the area
is out of bounds to the children most of the
time.”
We’re passionate about
ponds
• We believe in inspiring children
• We supply complete child safe
ponds and cover existing ponds
Follow our blog to see how St Anne’s CE Primary
School, Bewdley and Leigh and Bransford Primary
School use their Bugzone ponds, or register online
to download guides on a variety of topics
including:
• We make it easy for teachers to deliver curriculum activities
• Our covers will last to inspire many generations of children
It’s so easy... the Bugzone can be ordered with a plant kit to develop an
established habitat in no time as well as a pond dipping kit with
everything you need to get started. A tech kit for those schools wanting to
bring outdoor study into the classroom is also available, and a winter kit
keeps the pond healthy through leaf fall, ice and snow, and supports local
wildlife during this harsh season.
• Fundraising for your school Bugzone
• Establishing a sustainable habitat
• Siting and Installing your pond
Maintenance through the seasons
... and more to come
Step 1 - It’s worth creating some ground rules with the children, how you do
this will depend on the age of the children – of course Bugzone makes it
easy as they cannot fall in while it is securely closed:
Foundation age children will
probably need some guidance ­
some may not have been to a pond
before, some may not know what
one is!
A discussion about water, some
photographs or pictures of ponds, how
dangerous (but how interesting!) water
can be, is essential. Children do not
need to be scared, but need to learn to
be respectful of water. Ground rules
which may emerge could be –
• Walk near water
Key Stage 1 children can be more
systematic – you could visit the
pond with them, they can work in
groups and think firstly about the
dangers, then the rules needed to
keep them safe.
• Kneel or sit to help keep you
balanced, move away from the water’s
edge to look at your discoveries
• Keep your hands away from your
mouth once they have been in the
water
• Kneel down or sit on your bottom
near the water
• Keep the nets safely away from
other’s faces – only one person to use
them at a time
• Never lean over the water
• Take care with creatures
• Let an adult know if you are nervous
• Respect the creatures and always
return them to their homes
• Never put your hands in your mouth
after putting them in the pond
• Always wash your hands after pond
dipping
Key Stage 2 children should need
little guidance, especially if pond
dipping is a regular occurrence
throughout their time in the school.
They may come up with interesting
rules such as:
"Only four children at the pond at a
time."
"One person to dip, one to identify."
Every set of children is different, you
need to gauge the safety needs of
each group. With all ages it seems
wise to have a recognised ’code word’
to which all children respond, but not
panic. If someone falls in, the school /
setting / grounds need to be
evacuated, then at least the children
know you mean business! This could
form part of the ground rules.
Step 2 ­ What to do when
you get there!
When they first arrive at a
pond, a field or woodland, it
is useful if you can
encourage children to sit
quietly and look and listen: it
is amazing what can be
seen and heard when the
children watch and listen – a
dragonfly, a frog, a pond
skater, a heron!
This exercise reinforces the
need for quiet –pond
creatures can quickly
disappear when there is
noise, they need to
understand that from the
start.
Step 3 - the dip
Once children have been reminded of the
rules, they are ready to begin.
The children will need to fill pots/trays/ice
cream boxes with water and set that on the
side of the pond–some plants from the pond
will be helpful too, that alone will bring
creatures into the tray.
Try to avoid disturbing the floor of the pond
too much and keep it gentle to avoid scaring
creatures away or causing damage. The nets
can then be used to ‘scoop’ the water and
collect creatures; the net is then brought over
the tray and ‘turned’ inside out so the
creatures can fall gently into their temporary
home. This is when observation and
identification can really begin.
After the work is complete, remember to
always return every creature to the pond and
to wash all equipment thoroughly. Hands will
need washing too.
You
will
have to
be firm at
the water’s
edge –it is rare
for children to
behave poorly at a
pond, but explain the
consequences clearly before
you go – no poor behaviour will
be tolerated, immediate removal
from the area is the consequence.
Pond Dipping Pack from Ponds for Schools includes:
- Nets
- Trays
- White plastic spoons
- Laminated identification sheets,
- Magnifying glasses and ‘Bug Boxes’
Cheap alternatives to expand your packs might be white
ice cream tubs and white plastic spoons—to order please
call 01299 877008
Identification Sheets
You might also need:
There are some excellent printable identification sheets from websites which you could print out
and laminate or pop into plastic wallets -
• First Aid Kit
www.wow4water.net (line drawings and tally charts)
www.rbkc.gov.uk (lovely colourful charts, quite large pictures, includes a pond identity key for
KS2)
http://www.microscopy-uk.org.uk –excellent interactive resources with plants, trees, animals and
insect identification charts
http://www.doeni.gov.uk/niea/mini_beasts_booklet.pdf (more detailed descriptions of creatures,
interesting descriptions of creature habitats)
There is a wealth of songs, rhymes, story and poetry to support your pond dipping for all age
groups, which can be viewed at http://www.tes.co.uk/teaching-resource/Mini-beast-links3008202/
• Hand gel/hand wipes
• A towel –just in case!
• Maybe some books for
any unusual finds
• Clipboards and paper
• Pencils (which will need
washing afterwards)
• Coloured pencils (which
will need washing
afterwards)
• Watercolours and fine
brushes
• Appropriate clothing,
wellies/waterproofs
• Recording devices such
as MP3 recorders
Lesson plans
There are some sample lesson plans at these links which you could adapt to your planning
formats or use wholesale:
http://www.wow4water.net/images/pond%20dipping%20lesson.pdf
http://www.forestry.gov.uk/pdf/eng-tc-pond-dipping.pdf/$FILE/eng-tc-pond-dipping.pdf
Resources
Other websites that provide high quality resources are –
http://www.tts-group.co.uk
http://www.garden-gear.co.uk/
http://www.holz-toys.co.uk
Useful information
Information on funding, maintenance and using your pond can also be found at –
http://www.pondsforschools.co.uk
http://www.squidoo.com/pond-dipping
http://www.pondexpert.co.uk
http://www.thekidsgarden.co.uk/educating
http://www.pondconservation.org.uk/advice/fundingforyourpondproject
http://www.dwt.org.uk/resources/education/the-schools-environment-fund
And there’s more ... Ponds for Schools offers a technology kit, CCTV that can be linked to the white board so you can see what
happens around the pond when the children aren’t there. You could see frogs, toads, newts, birds bathing and maybe even a
grass snake swimming in the summer or a fox visiting to drink in the night.
Ponds for Schools and Bugzone are part of Creative Pond Covers Limited, Registered in England and Wales Registration Number: 6453734
Registered Office: Creative Pond Covers Limited, Unit 1 34 Sandy Lane Industrial Estate, Stourport-on-Severn, Worcestershire DY1 3 9QB
The essence of high quality experiences across all age groups while using the pond is to make it a regular experience, rather
than an annual or biennial one. The more often the children can interact with the area, the more they will gain from their
experiences. Try to think of the pond in a different way –not just to 'pond dip' but to fulfil many areas of the curriculum in exciting
ways, providing context and stimulus for activities, learning and enjoyment. For some great ideas please download the ‘Love
Ponds’ Guides available for foundation stage, Key Stage 1 and Key Stage 2.
Remember that your pond is a living part of the school, an essential resource for all age groups if used effectively; the children
will love the experiences, you may prompt a lifelong love of nature in the children and hopefully will engender a respect for the
environment in all pupils
Paula Morris, B.ED.(Hons), EYPS