NEW BRUNSWICK, New Jersey—Three red worms. Two dragonfly nymphs. One midge larvae. Throw in an 'eye of newt' and it sounds like a witch's recipe to be sure. But this macroinvertebrate listing is just a sampling of what a group of third graders at Woodrow Wilson School found in local pond water during a recent classroom project called Bucket Buddies.

The project, developed by the Center for Improved Engineering and Science Education, engages students in the identification and study of tiny creatures found in local pond water and then asks them to compare their findings with those of other project participants around the world. The project addresses national science education learning goals, including engaging students in scientific inquiry and developing an understanding of the characteristics of organisms, the life cycles of organisms, and the relationship between organisms and their environments.

Teacher Diane Neal explains that the underlying question students are asked to examine is: "Are the same organisms found in pond water the same all over the world?"

To identify the creatures in their pond water samples, students use magnifying glasses and identification charts. Next, they summarize their findings and post this data online. Finally, students examine results from other schools across the nation and around the world and compare and analyze others' data in relation to their own. They summarize their findings in a final report that is also posted online.

During the course of their project, Neal's students nurtured two tadpoles and observed the process of their metamorphosis into frogs. This phase of the project included a Web quest to collect information on the process of metamorphosis and the feeding habits of tadpoles and frogs. Small groups of students collaborated on the writing of nonfiction books on the subject using a software program designed to help students publish storybooks.

The project could not have been implemented without technology, Neal reports. "Students have to access the Web site in order to find information about the pond water collected by other students. Then they make comparisons. Therefore, technology is a viable tool to work collaboratively with other students in near and distant communities." She adds, "The Web is a great place for teachers to find engaging lessons and projects."

Woodrow Wilson School, a National Blue Ribbon School of Excellence, serves a diverse student body of 410 in the metropolitan community of New Brunswick. Because only a small percentage of these students have access to computers at home, the school includes a large computer lab, as well as small numbers of computers in each classroom (Neal has five in her room). The school also employs a full-time technology teacher who Neal says "provided great technical assistance" during the Bucket Buddies project.

So what did students discover about pond organisms around the world?

Neal says her students learned that "some of the organisms are similar and some of them are different. Climate, geographical location, and pollution were some factors in the types of organisms found in the pond water. Students understood that there are different ecological environments in different parts of the world." Additionally, Neal reports that her students rated Bucket Buddies as one of their all-time favorite learning experiences. "Undoubtedly," she says, "my students will always remember the Bucket Buddies project because it was so engaging."

Visit the Center for Improved Engineering and Science Education at: (www.k12science.org*)