Vernal Pools of New England (1 of 3)
Welcome to Change is Simple’s Online Learning Platform!
Overview: Today, we are going to explore one of the coolest micro-ecosystems found in our woodlands, vernal pools! These temporary wetlands pop up every spring and are a crucial habitat for amphibians (frogs and salamanders) and insect larvae, providing them a safe haven to lay eggs free from predators found in larger bodies of water. In today’s lesson, we are going to watch a quick video explaining the importance of vernal pools, then use our brain power to solve some math problems that will unlock a color by letter diagram for you to design!
Grade Level: 3-6
*For younger students - skip the math problems!
Theme: Earth Systems
Supervision needed? No
Essential Questions:
What are vernal pools?
What are some animals you will find in a vernal pool?
Why are vernal pools essential for the life of many animals?
Materials Needed:
9 colored pencils/crayons/markers
Printer
paper & pencil
Standards:
Welcome to Change is Simple’s Online Learning!
Today, we are going to explore one of the coolest micro-ecosystems found in our woodlands, vernal pools! These temporary wetlands pop up every spring and are a crucial habitat for amphibians (frogs and salamanders) and insect larvae, providing them a safe haven to lay eggs free from predators found in larger bodies of water. In today’s lesson, we are going to watch a quick video explaining the importance of vernal pools, then use our brain power to solve some math problems that will unlock a color by letter diagram for you to design!
PLEASE WATCH THIS VIDEO SO WE CAN GET STARTED!
It is now time for us to do some Vernal Pool Math!
The answers to the math problems will help us unlock the correct colors to fill in our vernal pool diagram. By using the answer key provided, you will see the answer of your math problem paired with a color. If you get it right, you will have all the colors you will need to complete the diagram! Be warned however, some colors do Not belong!
If the math is too challenging or you just want to color, you will find the coloring key after this section.
If there are 4 dragonfly larvae, 8 beetle larvae and 7 phantom midge larvae, how many insect larvae are in the vernal pool in total?
The first warm rainy night of the year, salamanders migrate en mass to vernal pools to breed. The temperature has to be at least 55 degrees for the salamanders to begin their journey. How much higher is this temperature than the freezing point of water (32 degrees)?
Vernal Pools are found in forests around New England. If there are an average of 5 vernal pools per 10 acres, what is the number of vernal pools in 50 acres of forest?
If there are 10 frogs, 100 tadpoles, 50 fairy shrimp and 25 salamanders, how many total animals are in the pool?
If a vernal pool loses 1 inch of water per day, how many inches of water would have evaporated after 2 months? (assuming each month had 30 days)
Amphibians breed in the pool but spend 11 months in the woodlands. They usually venture (300 x 2) feet away from the pool. How many feet do they venture from the pool?
If there are 20 egg masses with 50 eggs each, how many total eggs are there?
Vernal Pools are threatened by deforestation. If there are 5 vernal pools per ten acres and 80 acres are logged, how many vernal pools were destroyed?
If there 150 animals in every vernal pool and 7 get destroyed, how many animals lost their habitat?
Now that we have the Correct Answers and colors it is time to start coloring!
You will need:
9 crayons/colored pencils/ markers of the correct colors
A printed copy of our color by letter diagram
Provided below is a color key that shows where each color belongs on our diagram!
Note* You can color the leaves any combination of D, C or F!