Pond (One Small Square) Part Two

There are some homeschool rhythms that become so beloved they are impossible to abandon for long. Our weekly pond visits are one of them. Even though I wasn’t entirely sure we would make it to the pond this week, the children begged and begged after missing it last week. Their renewed enthusiasm came as no surprise, our latest book addition has completely reignited our homeschool pond study. What is this book? Pond (One Small Square) by Donald M. Silver

Find out more! If you’d like to know more about why we decided to do a year long pond study, this is the post for you!

As we approach the halfway point of our one year pond study, the timing of this renewed inspiration could not have been better.

Read about our very own pond ecosystem as well as our examination of the pond water

Summary of Pond (One Small Square) by Donald M. Silver

Pond (One Small Square) by Donald M. Silver is an exceptional nature study book that invites readers to slow down and closely observe a single, small section of a pond ecosystem. Rather than overwhelming students with facts, the book encourages focused, intentional observation — a perfect approach for homeschool nature study.

Pond pollution is one thing that would affect the number and variety of plants and trees in our UK pond. Read about it here and see what we found.

The book is divided into two main halves. The first half introduces the pond environment and the many creatures that live above, on, and below the water’s surface. The second half explores how the pond changes under different conditions, including rain, seasonal shifts, and twilight. Silver also includes detailed illustrations, clear explanations, and practical guidance for observing pond life respectfully and safely.

I have written a post about Moorhen chicks and have included a follow up to show their growth from eggs to chick to fledgling teen-agers!

At the end of the book, six full pages catalogue common pond dwellers, grouped in an easy-to-use format, making identification simple for children. A thorough index allows families to revisit specific topics as their pond study evolves. A student could easily spend an entire lesson on a single double-page spread and come away enriched — which is exactly what we plan to do during the quieter winter months.

Fancy doing some pond art? Read here for our bark rubbings and leave hammering

Renewed Vision Using Pond (One Small Square) Part Two

We read the first half of Pond (One Small Square) during our initial week with the book and have just finished the second half. While our enthusiasm for the pond never truly waned, this book has given us renewed vision and fresh ideas that we will be applying over the coming months.

The second half of the book focuses on:

• How rain affects pond ecosystems
• Observing the pond at twilight
• Seasonal changes in plant and animal life
• Understanding pond life cycles

These themes align beautifully with a one year pond study, reminding us that nature study is not about rushing to see everything at once, but about noticing changes over time.

Click here to read about the animals and plants we have found around our pond

We’ve done a whole study on the heron which you can read here!

Choosing Our Pond Squares

With everyone finally feeling better, there was no delaying the inevitable, we headed to the pond to choose our squares. Each child carefully inspected possible locations, choosing and re-choosing their “one small square” while I took a moment to simply observe.

Take a peek at our Ash Tree Study which we began right at the start of our pond study and its extension Ash Tree and Lichen

I watched a heron fishing in the shallows, noting the subtle change in the width of his neck as he swallowed his catch. I also spotted a young moorhen, no longer quite a baby, whom I’ll be adding to my ongoing bird study.

Meanwhile, the children were fully immersed. Thomas lifted a rock within his chosen square and discovered a thriving miniature world underneath. His excitement was contagious. He immediately asked if we could plan a water study soon so he could temporarily bring some creatures home for closer observation. He takes this homeschool pond study very seriously and is already planning a David Attenborough–style documentary series, with Lillie appointed as on-set caterer!

Moments like these are the heart of homeschooling: genuine curiosity, self-driven learning, and deep engagement with God’s creation.

Read More! We learnt all about the variety of pond birds in the UK and the summer pond fauna

Reflection Questions for Your Homeschool

Use these questions during journaling, narration, or group discussion:

1. Why is studying one small area more effective than trying to observe the whole pond at once?
2. What changes might you expect to see in your pond square as the seasons change?
3. How does weather affect the plants and animals living in a pond?
4. What creatures live above the water, on the surface, and below the surface?
5. How does careful observation help us respect nature rather than disturb it?

Hands-On Activity Ideas to Go Along with This Lesson

• Create a Pond Square Frame: Use sticks or cardboard to mark out a one-foot square for observation.
• Nature Journaling: Draw and label everything found in the square over time.
• Weather Watch: Visit the same square before and after rain and record differences.
• Water Study: Collect pond water in a jar and examine it under a magnifying glass.
• Creature ID Cards: Use the pond dweller pages from Pond (One Small Square) to make identification cards.
• Twilight Visit: Observe the pond at dusk and note changes in sound and movement.
• Mini Documentary Project: Record short videos explaining discoveries, just like a nature presenter.