LIFE AROUND THE WATER
A pond is a
busy place.
Look below the lily pads and along the shore. Plants and animals connect in ways that make a pond a living neighborhood.
Try the pond detective sheet →
POND NEIGHBORS
Who shares the water?
Tap a card to read a little more about each neighbor.
🌿 Pond plants
Plants provide food and hiding places. Some grow underwater, while others float or grow along the edge.
🥚 Toad eggs
Many American toads lay eggs in long strings in shallow water. Eggs and the tiny tadpoles that hatch need a safe place to grow.
🐛 Tadpoles
Tadpoles live in water while they grow. As they change, legs appear and the tail becomes smaller.
🦋 Insects
Dragonflies, water beetles, and other insects visit or live in ponds. They are part of the food web, too.
EVERYTHING CONNECTS
A simple pond food web.
Sunlight helps plants grow. Tiny animals may eat algae or plants. Bigger animals may eat insects and other small creatures. A pond works because many living things share it.
FOR
THE POND
A GOOD VISITOR
Keep water and wildlife safe.
Stay on marked paths, take litter with you, and never release pets or aquarium plants into a pond. Ask a grown-up before joining a cleanup.