Icy Nature Study
If you live anywhere near a pond when it freezes over, this is a great nature study activity!
We headed out in the very cold wind to bring a sample of ice home from the pond. After trying to break the ice with a knife (which usually works), then a large rock (which almost always works), we looked out to the middle of the pond to see the dog happily walking across with not a care in the world.
After realizing the pond was way more frozen than we thought, Mahayla and Caleb went back down with a an axe. Nothing was going to stop Caleb from trying this experiment!
Once home, we let the ice melt with the hopes of being able to find something alive in the once frozen water. Unfortunately, the pond closest to our home is new and probably doesn’t have much life in it yet, so we were left with only melted pond water. But, the study wasn’t worthless, as we were able to watch the water settle and get a small simulation of what the bottom of this particular pond looks like.
I’m hoping to talk hubby into taking the kids to the bigger pond for a sample. If we find anything exciting, I’ll be sure to post!
Enjoy an exciting snow and ice study using this NaturExplorers study!
Caleb with an axe, now that’s scary!!lol The boy wanted his science experiment! Very cool, great job getting out in the brrrrr cold!
Love Ya, Melissa
How cool!!! We have a pond across the street from our neighborhood…I’ll have to keep this experiment in mind. Although I think I’ll wait ’til I know we won’t get stuck down at the pond. Ha.
Neat study. And did you figure out how thick the ice was too?
What a wonderful nature study.
Blessings,
Dawn