Portiña's Fieldtrip

Last friday our group went to the "Portiña's reservoir" a nice place close to Talavera where the City's Council set up a Nature's Center to bring students for learnig about local nature. These were the activities we did over there.

Students getting advice from the instructor

Identifying microorganisms in fresh water.
First we collected the orgisms using a "plancton net", placing them in some trays.

Students collect microorganisms using a "Plancton net"

In the laboratory, using magnifying lenses and a guide book, student identified the main organisms present in the water. Among them we found rotifers, daphnia, spirogyra, protozoans...etc.

Students working at the laboratory

Some of the microorganisms students watched. From up to the bottom:

Nematod, daphnia and spirogyra

Nature walking.

After this activity students went for a walk along the shore learning about local plants and birds. Student learnt about holm-oaks, lavender, rosemary, pines, mallards, grebes...

Students during the nature walk

We even watched how two grebes were doing the "MIRROR DANCE" (picture above), the courtship dance, that was maybe the most magical moment of the day with all the students enjoying with such a spectacle.