United States
Environmental Protection
Agency
Office of Water
Office of Wetlands,
Oceans and Watersheds (4502T)
EPA843-F-01-002J
March 2002
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K
ACTIVITY
To help in planning
what to teach, find out
what the students
already know.
Ask each student to
write down
(1) a type of wetland,
(2) a type of animal
associated with a
wetland,
(3) a plant associated
with a wetland, and
(4) two adjectives that
describe a wetland.
After the students have
answered the
questions, poll the
class on the answers
for each item. The
answers should help
you identify the
general level of
knowledge, along
with any
preconceptions about
wetlands (negative or
positive).
Why Is a Wetland Important?
Unfortunately, many people can't answer this question with
confidence. Although the public's appreciation of wetlands
is increasing, wetland studies have often been omitted
from school curricula in the past. Once young people t
learn about the value of wetlands, they have the tools to
become active citizens working to protect this critical
feature of the environment for future generations.
What Should I Teach?
W.
any children and adults do not know
. what a wetland really is, so that's the
place to start. Although wetlands are often wet,
a wetland might not be wet year-round. In fact,
many wetlands are only seasonally wet. Many
wetlands serve as transition zones between land
and water where the flow of water, the cycling
of nutrients, and the energy of the sun produce
a rich variety of plant and animal life. Because
of their wet nature, wetlands are home to
specially adapted water-loving plants and
promote the development of characteristic
wetland soils.
Students also need to know that wetlands help
us in many ways. They protect water quality,
provide fish and wildlife habitat, and store
floodwater. Once we realize how helpful
wetlands are, we can understand why we should
conserve and protect them. Although laws
protect some wetlands, threats to wetlands from
development, agriculture, and pollution are still
very real. Simply helping students to understand
and care about wetlands can go a long way
toward wetland preservation.
How Should I Teach
About Wetlands?
Wetland science lends itself to a
variety of exciting learning methods.
Because wetlands can be found all over
the United States, there is a good chance
that there are wetlands near your school.
A field trip to a wetland shows students
what a wetland looks like and how its
many parts function together. Trips to
more than one wetland can demonstrate
how wetlands differ from each other.
Wetlands can also be incorporated into
classroom work in the context of many subjects.
As a natural feature of the environment,
wetlands can be studied in physical science,
biology, or even water chemistry units. Many
wetlands are restored or protected by
community cooperation and hard work, lending
to studies in civics and sociology. The beauty
and serenity of wetlands provide the perfect
setting to practice art or to discuss and enjoy
literature.
Classroom
projects and
field trips get
young people
excited about
studying and
protecting
wetlands.
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Where Can I Find Information?
Wetland education materials are becoming
increasingly available as we see the benefit
of teaching people of all ages about the
wonders of wetlands. Many different
materials are available on the internet at
www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands.
Marsh fern
In addition, many state natural resource and
environmental agencies are developing
classroom materials on wetlands. Local
conservation commissions, libraries, and
community environmental groups are often
good sources. A wide variety of eye-catching
posters, brochures, and even true-to-life
scale models of wetlands are available to
enhance study. Some wetland programs offer
videos and TV downlinks. The U.S. Fish
and Wildlife Service's Wild Things program,
for example, offers a live electronic field
trip to a wildlife refuge.
Tiger swallowtail
Georgia has developed an Adopt-
a-Wetland Program, based on its
Adopt-a-Stream Program.
A manual that explains how to find
a wetland to adopt and how to
conduct a wetland walk, perform
surveys, and maintain the beauty
of a wetland is available on the
program's web site. Programs like
Georgia's provide an opportunity
for hands-on learning for all ages.
For more information, call
(404) 656-1639 or visit
www.riversalive.org/aas.htm.
On the Internet
EPA's Wetlands Science, Education, and Information Resources www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/resources
Izaak Walton League of America www.iwla.org
Terrene Institute's Wetlands: Educational Resources and Products www.terrene.org/education.htm
The Cattail Company's Wetlands Curriculum Resources www.cattailcompanycom/habitats/second_wetland.html
Just for Kids—Shorebirds and Wetlands http ://sssp.fws.gov/sssp.html
Ranger Rick's Kids Zone Cool Tours www.nwf.org/kids/cooltours.html
In Print
WOW! The Wonders of Wetlands: An Educator's Guide. Grades K-12. Order from The Watercourse, 201 Culbertson
Hall, P.O. Box 170575, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-0575; call (406) 994-5392 or visit
www.montana.edu/wwwwater/publications. $15.95 plus $4.50 shipping and handling.
Discover Wetlands. Grades 4-8. Order from the Washington State Department of Ecology, P.O. Box 47600, Olympia,
WA 98504-7600; call (206) 438-7538 or visit www.ecy.wa.gov/biblio/88016.html.
Project WET: Curriculum and Activity Guide. Order from Project WET, National and International Headquarters,
201 Culbertson Hall, P.O. Box 170570, Montana State University, Bozeman, MT 59717-0570; call (406) 994-5392
or visit www.montana.edu/wwwwet/wet/index.html.
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