The OBIS Lawn and Pond Guides are good starting points for identifying the critters that are likely to be found during many of these activities. Other simple resources that are also useful are the Golden Guide series is probably best for a small inexpensive field guide that is appropriate for ten-year-olds and older. For a simple to understand guide they are amazingly complete and include titles such as: Pond Life, Insects, Spiders and Their Kin, Amphibians, Reptiles, etc. In addition to identifying the critter, there is a short narrative that usually includes information such as habitat, range, and unique characteristics. Having these along on excursions can help students more specifically identify the treasures they have found and learn additional information about them.
Equipment and Technique Cards
Also included in some activities are Equipment and Technique Cards. These cards explain how to make simple pieces of equipment used in the activities and describe various biological study techniques used.
Lawn Guides and Pond Guides
These guides are designed for quick, easy identification of some of the most commonly encountered lawn and pond organisms. Only those organisms readily observed by the unaided eye or by means of a simple magnifying lens have been included.
To use the guides, simply flip through the pages looking for a drawing that corresponds to the organism you wish to identify. Because the drawings are black and white and do not move, explain to your group that the organisms they find may not exactly match the guide’s drawings. The investigator should look for the drawing that most closely resembles the organisms.
The guides are currently not available.