What do wetland species need to survive?

Swamp 2: David, Gina, Jessica, Julia, Justin, Shalini

March 14, 2010

Program Design

Science Content: Animals, Plants, Habitat

Swamp Content: Fresh water, woody vegetation, dominant species

Tools: Nets, magnifiers, tanks, field guides

Documentation: Journals

Program Goal

• What do wetland species need to survive?– Food– Water– Shelter– Space

Objectives

Participants will be able to:

• Define general survival needs

• Describe characteristics of a swamp habitat

• Identify 4 swamp species

• Explain 2 ways that swamps benefit people

Classroom Introduction

• Welcome and what to expect• Assistive listening devices • Describe activities and schedule for

the day• Utilize visuals and manipulatives

Visual Presentation

• General survival needs (objective 1)

• Student activity

• “Swamp says” with

survival needs

Visual Presentation (cont)

• Characteristics of a swamp habitat (objective 2)– Hands-on activity– Soil components

Sand, silt, and clay

Outside Preparation

• Introduce participants to new tools;

• Dip nets, magnifiers, tanks/buckets, field guides, journals, pictures of what we might see…

Outside Activity 1: Journaling

• Field guide/Checklist of common species• Leaf and bark rubbings,

(White) Oak (American)Elm

Trees

Outside Activity 1: Journaling

• Modifications– blind/low vision: feeling

the leaves and bark– age related: hand over

hand– intellectual: feeling and

rubbings if possible

Outside for Activity 2

• Dip netting• Collecting, identifying and sorting

organisms

Outside Activity 2: Dip Netting

• Modifications – blind/low vision: models

for feeling and hand over hand

– age related: assistance dipping organisms and with sort and id

– intellectual: models and tanks for viewing organisms

Inside for Wrap-Up

• Food-Chain activity - Animals/plants images on cards

• Verbal wrap up asking participants how they think the swamp benefits humans…

Special Program

• Streaming video to deliver Swamp lesson visuals to offsite group

• Live animals/taxidermy/models