Wetland Kids!
(Grades 4 -6) Streamside art activities, origami water critters, the roles of water organisms in producing / consuming / decomposing, water food webs, making new food webs, wetland zone activities, and a wetland metaphors language arts activity, making tabletop watersheds. (MT 5 Standards PS3-1, LS1-1. LS2-1, PS3-D, LS!-C, LS2-A, LS2-B)
1. Streamside Riparian Areas coloring page
Copies in binder
2. Folding an Origami Jumping Frog and Tadpole
Copies, examples, in binder
3. Moving / Still water Critter Comparison
Field study using minnow nets, forceps and magnifying boxes – rivers vs. sloughs
8 small aquatic nets
20 clear acrylic magnification boxes
10 long forceps
2 small tubs
Water We Here For? book
America’s Wetlands Guide book
copies in binder
4. Produce, Consume or Decompose
Examining the roles of different organisms in a wetland (adapt. Project Webfoot)
Habitat poster
copies in binder
5. Chains and Webs
Where does the food go in a wetland system? (adapt. Project Webfoot)
copies in binder
teacher-supplied materials
6. We’re All in it Together
Synthesizing 3 food chains from a single energy source (Webfoot)
copies in binder
7. Wetland Zones
Examining which animals and plants live in which zones of a wetland (Webfoot)
copies in binder
8. Wetland Metaphors
What normal human objects correlate to functions in a wetland (adapt. Aquatic Wild)
bar soap
sponge
Rolaids
wire whisk
box of cereal
sifter
magnifying glass
coffee filters
rubber ducky
9. Table-top Watersheds
Making a small watershed from waxed paper or aluminum foil
Project WET Watershed Protection Activity Book
waxed paper
food coloring
Supplemental, for all activities:
Spring Waters read-aloud book
Celebrate Wetlands activity book
Henry, the Impatient Heron read-aloud book
plush beaver puppet, skull and tree cutting
3 plush singing wetland birds
plastic frog and dragonfly
Wetland Values poster