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Form Object
Exploring the HCP Wetland Lesson Plan |
Adapted from Penn State School of Forest Resources & Ranger Rick's Nature Scope, 1997 & Saratoga Springs Open Space Project & Wonderful Wetlands! Wetlands and the Chesapeake Bay Watershed Watershed Education Guide for Saratoga Lake by Lauren Fletcher and Sieglinde Mueller, 2007-2008 |
LESSON 1: Building a wetland model Objectives for the lesson: -To teach some background history about wetlands in the United States -To explain the benefits and importance of wetlands (help reduce pollution, flooding, provide habitat for unique species) -To interpret the pocket wetland on Hudson Crossing Park property |
Grade levels: 5th-8th grade |
Materials: o Modeling clay o Tin/aluminum pan (or any cooking pan) o 1-2 sponges o Jar of clean water o Jar of muddy water o Soil |
Background discussion: Definition of a wetland: An area that is permanently, temporarily, or seasonally flooded with water which supports plant life that is adapted to living in soil saturated with water -Since the 1700's wetlands have been destroyed because they were thought of as useless swamps -In 1977, through the Clean Water Act, wetlands started to get protection - U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service also passed acts that helped protect wetlands including the Migratory Bird Conservation Act of 1929 and numerous National Wildlife Refuge Acts - Despite these laws, the United States loses about 60,000 acres of wetlands each year -Why do we care? 1. Habitat o 1/3 of all N. American birds rely on wetland habitats for some reason o 26% plants on threatened or endangered lists are somehow dependent on wetlands 2. Flood prevention o depressions hold water when there is heavy precipitation o upstream wetlands catch and hold runoff 3. Groundwater reservoir o water from wetlands may reduce the extent of drop in groundwater during times of low precipitation 4. Recreation, education, research 5. Water purification and waste disposal o plants can purify water o estimated that a 100 acre marsh-pond could purify the domestic sewage from a 10,000 person community 6. Human economics o 95% commercially harvested fish and shellfish spend part of their life in wetlands 7. Productivity o One of the most productive ecosystems on earth o High density of veg. o When wetland plants die, they are decomposed by bacterial and fungal populations in the substrate 8. Plant conservation |