How to observe tadpoles

How do you observe tadpoles?  Well, first you catch some tadpoles.  There are many places to find tadpoles.  Near our house is an actual "tadpole pond".  That's where we go; there are other places.

Okay, so you stand in the water with your aquarium net until you see something.  Then you try to catch it in your net without hurting it.

 

Once you have actually caught something, you take it back to the plastic shoebox.  Did you know that Mom has learned from last year's outings and now fills the shoebox with water before any boy steps a toe into the pond?

 

Then you carefully release your tadpole (water strider, water boatman, mosquito larva, mud, whatever) into the shoebox filled with pond water.

 

If you look carefully, you can see a frog tadpole along the right edge, and a salamander tadpole along the bottom right.  Plus small sticks, debris, insects, and snails.

 

If you want to observe something more closely, put it (carefully!) into an observation jar.  See how this salamander tadpole already has four legs?



Little brother may choose to stay out of the pond entirely, eat his snack, and merely observe creatures as they appear in the shoebox.

   

Very important:  if you catch something that *might* be a bullfrog tadpole, completely flip out about it.

 

You can at least have your picture taken with the tadpole!

 

After returning all the water creatures (gently) to the pond, you can ride your bike home, stopping to enjoy the scenery.

 

Letting a bug crawl on your arm so that Mom can take a picture of it is optional.