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2-3 Station 1: Wetlands Habitat
2-3 Station 1: Wetlands Habitat
Class discussion:
What is a wetland? What other names do we use to describe wetlands?
Wetlands are 'lands' that are 'wet.' Wetlands have special soils and plants that love water.
Wetlands can also be called swamps, marshes, and bogs, depending on the environment.
What is the most famous swamp in Georgia?
The Okefenokee Swamp is one of the largest swamps in the country.
What is the difference between a swamp and a marsh?
A variety of reeds and grasses will grow in a marsh, but trees and larger plants can grow in a swamp. Swamps and marshes are types of wetlands.
Marshes can be found on the coast of Georgia, and swamps can be found all throughout the state (see pictures below, a Georgia marsh first and a Georgia swamp second)
Class Activity: Wetlands Metaphors
Adapted from WOW: Wonders of Wetlands
Materials: container or empty pillowcase with listed objects (or pictures of objects): sponge, pillow or bed, egg beater, cradle, strainer, coffee filter, cereal or rice, antacid tablet, picture of zoo, picture of resort or hotel, soap (see document to print: https://docs.google.com/presentation/d/1uxt-EqWmO-21Q49tJ1xZ-CpOqw-VHJpWBWsN-jDKOb8/edit?usp=sharing)
- Tell students that we are going to continue discussing the positive things about wetlands using metaphors, words of objects used to symbolize something else
- Examples of metaphors include "the world is a stage" and "books are windows to thoughts"
- Split students into groups of 3-4, and have each group randomly pick an object from the container
- Give students a few minutes to determine how the object their group picked could describe something about a wetlands
- Allow a representative from each group to discuss how their object could explain a feature of wetlands. Examples for each object include:
- Sponge: Absorbs excess water caused by runoff; retains moisture for a time even if standing water dries up
- Pillow or bed: resting place for migratory birds
- Egg beater: nutrients mixed into the water and soil
- Cradle: provides a nursery that shelters, protects, and feeds young wildlife
- Strainer: strains silt and debris from water (keeps water clean)
- Coffee filter: filters smaller impurities from water (keeps water clean)
- Antacid: neutralizes toxic substances (keeps water clean)
- Cereal or rice: provide nutrient-rich foods for wildlife and humans
- Soap: helps cleanse the environment
- Zoo: Habitat for diverse wildlife
- Resort or Motel: Resting or Wintering place for migrating waterfowl
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