&EPA
United States
Environmental
Protection Agency
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.
Why Is a Wetland Important?
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 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?
Many 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. Wetlands
are home to specially adapted water-loving
plants and promote the development of
characteristic wetland soils.
Students also need to know that wetlands
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
from development, agriculture, and pollution
are still very real. Simply helping students to
understand and care about wetlands can go a
long way toward preserving them.
How Should I Teach About
Wetlands?
3^. 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.
-------
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.
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.
Marsh fern
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 health 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 Division www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands
Schoolyard Habitats Program www.nwf.org/schoolyardhabitats
Ducks Unlimited www.greenwing.org
Project WILD www.projectwild.org
U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service www.educators.fws.gov
U.S. Geological Survey www.usgs.gov/education
Louisiana Coast www.lacoast.gov/education/kids
National Geographic www.nationalgeographic.com/geographyaction
A World in Our Backyard www.epa.gov/region01/students/teacher/wetlands.html
In Print
WOW! The Wonders ofWetlands: 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 orvisitwww.montana.edu/
wwwwater. $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 orvisitwww.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.projectwet.org.
------- |