The By the Pond is part of the EMYS programme for teaching English to young learners. In this set, children explore the fascinating life cycles of frogs and butterflies through immersive, hands-on activities. With EMYS, the English-speaking robot, as their guide, they engage in dynamic learning experiences that include interactive games, creative crafts, energising movement-based tasks, and captivating real nature footage that brings the pond environment to life. Let your child dive into a world full of wonder, where nature meets language, and learning happens through movement, creativity, and joy.
 
To enhance both learners’ proficiency in a foreign language and their content knowledge, our educational set is designed around an approach known as Content and Language Integrated Learning (CLIL). In CLIL-based activities, learners deepen their understanding of academic subjects while simultaneously developing their language skills. This integrated method not only fosters greater fluency but also supports the development of both lower-order and higher-order thinking skills. By engaging with content in a meaningful and purposeful way, children are more motivated and better able to retain both language and subject knowledge over time.
 
The set combines science and mathematics in meaningful, real-life contexts. Children practise counting, addition, subtraction, and comparing quantities and sizes - all while learning English through playful discovery.
 
You can order this Learning Set with the optional Butterfly Pavilion - Live Butterfly Add-On Kit, which allows children to observe the complete butterfly life cycle up close - from caterpillar to pupa to butterfly. We work with Insect Lore, our trusted partner and exclusive supplier of live butterfly rearing kits, bringing over 50 years of experience in nature-based learning. The Butterfly Pavilion kit includes a reusable mesh habitat and a voucher to redeem live caterpillars, making the experience both exciting and easy to manage in the classroom. EMYS supports the journey with bonus interactive content, including extra games and activities unlocked in Step 13 using the Activation Card included in the box. It’s a truly memorable way to connect language learning with the wonder of real nature.
 
This set was developed in collaboration with Jan Kochanowski University in Kielce.
 
Box content:
A Pond Play Mat
4 Crinkle Smart Cards with frog life cycle stages
4 Crinkle Smart Cards with butterfly life cycle stages
4 Crinkle Smart Cards with topic-related items
A Functional Language Dice
 
 Butterfly Pavilion content (optional):
Pop-up, reusable 60cm tall super clear mesh habitat
Voucher to redeem for 6-10 LIVE caterpillars (they will arrive in two cups with food)
Feeding pipette
Instruction guide
2 pupae stations (arrive with the caterpillars)
Insect Lore sugar packet to make your own butterfly nectar (arrives with the caterpillars)
Activation Card to unlock additional educational content played on the EMYS robot
Caterpillars are available from March to September.
 
Digital content:
12+4(optional) interactive games
10 real nature footage clips
4 guided art activities
 
Numbers of words and expressions:
72 target words and expressions
43 expressions to be acquired from games
106 Emys' instructions and motivational set phrases
 
Structures:
a/an + noun
That’s a ... / They’re ... Is it...? / Are they...?
Yes, it is / Yes, they are, No, it isn’t / No, they aren’t.
It’s ... a/an + adjective + noun
Which one is + small / big?
Number + noun + plus / minus + nunber + noun + equals....
Is + number + an odd or even number?
The imperative (Put a duck on the mat / Jump like a frog)
 
Examples of instructions:
Touch my screen with a card.
Please, help me find a frog (a fish, a dragonfly, a duck, etc.)
Please, show me fly like a butterfly.
Seven is an odd number.
Each egg hatches into a tiny tadpole.
The tadpole becomes a froglet.
Please, help me find the missing element.
 
Examples of questions:
Can you croak like a frog?
Do you know, what odd and even numbers are?
How many fish can you see and how many frogs can you see?
Is the number of frogs the same as the number of butterflies?
Do you know how frogs grow?
Is it the right order of the pictures?
 
Examples of motivational language: 
Excellent!
You’re doing great!
Great!
Brilliant!
Amazing!
 
Disclaimers:
By the Pond Set is compatible with a software version equal to or higher than 2.4.35. If your robot's software is lower than this version,  just contact us with this 👉 form. You can check your software version as shown 👉 here.
 
The butterflies in the photos are Leopard Lacewings. The Butterfly Pavilion always includes Painted Lady, which are beautiful and colourful.
 
The Butterfly Pavilion Habitat is a reusable. Then when you wish to raise more butterflies, just order refill Cups of Caterpillars from 👉 here. 
 
Insect Lore is EMYS trusted partner and supplier of live butterfly rearing kits. Their kit can be used together with the Learning Set By the Pond as bonus content, providing hands-on activities and educational support for raising live butterflies.
 
The Butterfly Pavilion product referenced here is an original, stand-alone Insect Lore product provided in its complete and unmodified form. All copyrights, trademarks, logos, and intellectual property associated with the original product remain the sole property of Insect Lore.