Vernal Pool Educational Resources

In This Section

Introduce your students & youth to the world of vernal pools!

Explore the following resources for ways to incorporate vernal pool ecology & field work into your classroom, home, or community. 

Photo by Brandon Schroeder

 

Introduction to Vernal Pools for Educators

Check out the Center for Great Lakes Literacy module to vernal pools! Intended to help teachers explore Great Lakes topics with their students, the Great Lakes Literacy Education Exploration module on vernal pools is a 2-3 hour asynchronous course on Google sites that provides an introductory collection of resources and partners to get you started. 

Visit here: https://www.cgll.org/curriculum/great-lakes-literacy-education-exploration-gllee/  

 

Vernal Pool Curriculum

For the past few years, Alcona science teacher, Liz Thomson, has been mapping and monitoring vernal pools with her middle school students. Working with partners at Michigan Sea Grant, Michigan Natural Features Inventory, and the Michigan Nature Association, she is writing a data-driven, placed based lesson plan and accumulating all the tips she's learned taking students out into the field in a Vernal Pool Unit coming in 2027! 

Sign up to be emailed the curriculum when it is ready: https://forms.gle/U6bctjBAiFXbBDhV7

 

Monitor a Pool

Get involved in the Vernal Pool Patrol, a community science program that provides training on how to survey and collect data on vernal pools across the state of Michigan. This statewide program is for community scientists and educators who want to learn more about these fascinating wetlands, participate in science and conservation, and enjoy spending time outside in nature!
For an overview of what it looks like to engage students or youth groups in monitoring a vernal pool, preview this handout.

For questions or more information, please reach out to mvpp@michigannature.org!

 

Activities & Games to Try With Kids

A Race Against Summer - Printable Board Game

Play as a vernal pool indicator species and win by being the first to journey from egg to adulthood! You'll learn about the unique life cycle and adaptations of vernal pool obligates to mature before their nursey dries out in late summer, as well as how weather, humans, and other critters affect vernal pools. Created by Newaygo County Program Coordinator & retired teacher, Katie Clark.

 

BeLEAF It or Not!

Explore vernal pools and their resident critters with Michigan State University Extension's, Georgia Peterson & Bill Cook. Learn why vernal pools are important, creatures you might find, and get outside to look for a vernal pool in your area!

 

Pour-a-Pond Activity (K-12)

Discover vernal pools amazing biodiversity of invertebrate species with this hands-on activity. The attached handouts provide equipment list, set up and collection instructions, teaching procedure, and invertebrate identification sheet. Developed by Tom Hodgson, this activity is a low-tech method of introducing the public to pools without getting too wet! Has been used in schools, camps, nature centers, and even universities. 

 

Go Wild for Michigan's Wildlife

Developed by the Michigan DNR (adapted from the Council for Environmental Education’s Project WILD K-12 Curriculum and Activity Guide lesson Wildlife is Everywhere!), students will search their surroundings inside and outside for signs of wildlife and habitat in this one hour activity.

 

Vernal Pool Bingo

Free, downloadable and printable vernal pool bingo sheets! A great activity to encourage exploration and curiousity with students at vernal pools while learning to identify and recognize vernal pool indicator and facultative species.

 

Vernal Pool Books for Kids

 

Purchase an Introductory Ecology Game for Students

View these games for purchase that our vernal pool educators have used to introduce ecology principles to their students!