Science
Educator Information and
Directions
This packet includes the following:
● Active Listening Bingo to use while
your student watches the video Tell
Me About Freshwater Biomes
● Freshwater - Saltwater Lab
● Lab Notebooking Page
● Freshwater Force Lab
● Step-by-Step Play Dough Dragonfly
Fine Motor Activity
● Freshwater Word vocab worksheet
Library List
● One Small Square: Pond by Donald
Silver is part of a wonderful nature
science series aimed at encouraging
children’s heart to be filled with
wonder for the natural world through
hands on exploration ideas.
● Follow the Water from Brook to
Ocean by Arthur Dorros complements
the Freshwater Force Lab included in
this packet.
Suggested Gold/$coops
Using the reward function on the first tab of
your parent account, you may wish to
award Gold/$coops for the extension
activities and/or accomplishments
completed outside the website. Upon
successful completion of the suggested
activities listed below, we recommend the
following: 50 Gold/$coops per successfully
completed page
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Tell Me About Freshwater Biomes
This packet helps build understanding of the
following:
● Observation skills
● Critical thinking skills
● Compare and contrast the differences
between fresh and saltwater.
● Freshwater habitats
● The natural force of water
● The scientific method
● Using nature based scientific language
Extension Activities
There are so many wonderful ways to
explore freshwater! Perhaps the very best
way to do so is in the wild. If you have areas
with natural water habitats near you, plan a
field trip to observe, explore, and record.
Many students enjoy keeping a written or
vlog style nature notebook. The habit of
observing and recording will not only build a
strong scientific foundation, these also
become wonderful memory books that you
and your student will enjoy looking through
together in the future.
 Active Listening Bingo
While watching the video, your student should place a marker on
each word as they hear it. Encourage your student to color in the
graphics after watching the video and to share what they know
about each picture. For extra fun, cut out and use as charade cards!

Earth Lake River

Salmon Pond Cattail

Pink Dolphin Freshwater Manatee

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 Freshwater- Saltwater Lab
With your student, have fun exploring differences between
freshwater and saltwater. Typically students love this experiment!

Materials Needed

● Two bowls filled with water

● Table salt
● Mixing utensils
● An egg
● Lab Notebooking Page included in this packet or your own
Science journal

Running the Lab

1. Have your student add salt (½ cup or so) to one of the

bowls, mixing thoroughly. Note: warm water will help the
salt dissolve more quickly.

2. If desired, have your student take a taste from each bowl

of water and help them jot down their observations.

3. Guide and support your student in filling our their journal

page. Ask them what they think will happen if you put the
egg in the freshwater. How about the saltwater? Write
down their theories.

4. First, put the egg in the freshwater. Write down your

observations.

5. Next, put the egg in the saltwater. Write down your

observations.
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 Lab Notebooking Page
Experiment:

Purpose: (I wonder...) Materials: (I need...)

Hypothesis: (I think...)

Procedure: (First, I will...) Observations

and Results:
(I found out...)

Conclusion: (I learned that...)

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 Freshwater Force Lab
With your student, have fun exploring the strength of water and
how it can change the earth’s topography. This lab is best done
outside.

Materials Needed

● 3 large plastic containers or garden spaces

● Loosely packed soil
● Pitcher of water
● *Optional - From your local library, borrow the book Follow the Water from Brook to
Ocean by Arthur Dorros to complement this lesson.

Running the Lab

1. Have your student help fill your containers with soil and pack it down. One of
the containers should have a hill on one side and the soil should be packed a
little tighter. This can also be done in a garden bed or other space where the
soil can be tilled to create a softer surface.

2. Have your student help fill a pitcher with water.

3. In one of the flat soil containers, have your student pour the water with the
pitcher held near the soil. Observe and discuss what happened.

4. In another flat soil container, have your student hold the pitcher higher and
pour from further above. Observe and discuss what happened.

5. Lastly, in the container with a hill, have your student gently pour the water in
from the high hill side. Observe and discuss what happened. You can repeat
this holding the pitcher higher as well.

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 Build Your Own Freshwater Biome Lab
With your student, have fun exploring by creating your own
freshwater biome. This lab is best done outside.

Take a picture of your biome

Materials Needed
and ask your mom to share
in our Miacademy Learning
● Large plastic container for Parents and Teachers
● Aluminum foil Facebook group!
● Popsicle sticks
● Glue or tape
● Rocks
● Water
● Dirt and sand
● Grass, twigs, leaves, or other flora
● Printables (optional, on following pages)

Running the Lab

1. Have your student help create a river bed from the aluminum foil by forming a
half cylinder shape and running it from one end of the container to the other.
You may want to double the foil or line the exterior with rocks to make sure
the river bed is nice and sturdy.

2. Line the river bed with rocks and dirt. Be sure to leave enough space for water!

3. Fill the rest of the container with a combination of dirt, sand, and rocks. Be as
creative as you’d like!

4. Add flora (grass, plants, and trees) and fauna (animal figurines) to the land
around your river bed.

5. Lastly, fill your river bed with water and have fun playing with your very own
freshwater biome!

If your student enjoyed this lab, try making other freshwater biomes too!

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 Freshwater Biome Flora and
Fauna Cut Outs
Print and cut out the figures below to add to your Freshwater Biome
lab. It’s recommended to laminate for durability. Glue to popsicle
sticks to sink in the dirt.

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© Miaplaza, Inc. For Miacademy, Always Icecream, and Clever Dragons All Rights Reserved
Step-by-Step Play Dough Dragonfly
Written Guide

Step 1 Step 2

Pinch an extra large chunk of play Pinch a small chunk of play dough
dough and roll into a ball. and roll into a ball.

Next, roll between your palms to Next, make a little point at one end.
form a snake shape.
Attach to the top of your dragonfly’s
You just made your dragonfly’s body! body.

This is his head!

Step 3 Step 4

Pinch two big chunks of play dough Pinch two medium chunks of play
and roll into balls. dough and roll into balls.

Next, roll between your palms to Next, roll between your palms to
make two snake shapes. make two snake shapes.

Attach one on each side of your Attach one on each side of your
dragonfly’s body near his head. dragonfly’s body near his head.
Flatten gently. Flatten gently.

These are his top wings! These are his bottom wings!

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Step-by-Step Play Dough Dragonfly
Visual Guide

Step 1 Step

Step 3 Step 4

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 Freshwater Words
Trace the freshwater words below and draw a picture of the word in
the box beside it.

river

pond

lake

wetlands

Little brook, sing a song of a leaf that sailed along,

Down the golden braided center of your current swift and strong.
- J. W. Riley

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