Observing the Wetlands

Observation is one of the basic process skills students need to be familiar with in elementary science classes. Instruct students to divide a paper lengthwise into 4 columns. Title each column, touch, smell, hear, and see. After sitting in the wetlands area for 10 minutes, students should record everything they heard, smelled, saw and felt in the appropriate columns. In the classroom, transfer these observations to a larger, class chart that has been placed on the wall. Allow students to compare items that were contributed to the large list. Encourage students to use words in creative writing class. (P. Llanas)

Soil Sampling

Collect soil samples from the wetlands, regular soil around the schoolyard, at home and even sites on the web that post soil quality information (see below for link to the soil of the month). Compare the soil samples and use a graph program to see the results. For more information, check out this web site on soil education and see how it's done and why monitoring soil quality is important. Soil Science Education Site. (A. Sommers)

Lessons

More Lessons & Resources

The Texas Wetland Information Network

Backwater Buffet  Texas wetlands lesson. www.tpwd.state.tx.us/expltx/eft/activities/backwater_buffet.htm

Wet and Wild: A ThinkQuest Project on the Wetlands http://library.thinkquest.org/J003192F/default.htm

Hunt for wetlands (Internet Treasure Hunt) www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/huntwetlandsna.html

Life in the Wetlands www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/weboceansro.html

What are the Wetlands; What's to lose? www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listwetlandsmr2.html

Ecosytems and Pollution   Treasure hunt for information on threatened wetland. www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/huntecosystede.html

Exploring our Earth  A collaborative lesson focusing on the value of ecosystems-using different perspectives. www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/webdiscoverhe.html

The Fragile Fringe  A Guide for Teaching about the Coastal Wetlands. www.nwrc.gov/fringe/ff_index.html.

Enivronmental Protection Agency  Teacher resources for air, water, recycling, ecosystems. www.epa.gov/teachers/curriculum_resources.htm

Wetlands Biodiversity Lesson www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listwetlandmr.html

A trip throught the Wetlands  www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/huntecosystele.html

Water Lessons  http://www.epa.gov/rgytgrnj/kids/actwater.htm

Water and the Wetlands  Lesson that focuses on water evaporation, condensation and precipitation. www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listwaterms.html

A Water Sampler  Learning about the water cycle. www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/samwaterms.html

Our Living World  Webquest comparing ecosystems. www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/webecosysteta.html

Living Waters  Internet hotlist for water habitats. www.kn.pacbell.com/wired/fil/pages/listwaterhaja.html