Wetlands

Class Description:

After establishing a common vocabulary in the study of wetlands, students will gather data regarding the vegetation, hydrology, and soil composition of several wetland types including swamps, marshes, and peatlands. After returning from the discovery hike, students will analyze their data.

Total time: 3 hours (two hours outdoors)
Audience: 6-20 students, 4th grade through adult
Activity level: strenuous
Travel: 1 1/4 mile
Total uphill travel: 320 feet

Outcomes

Upon completion of the Wetlands Ecology class students will be able to:

Define "wetland" and distinguish between several types of Minnesota wetlands.

Summarize the formation and distribution of wetlands in MN and the US.

Explain three values inherent in natural, undisturbed wetlands.

Recommend actions to preserve healthy wetland environments.

Minnesota Graduation Standards

The Wetlands class will provide students with guided practice, in an authentic setting, to support the following Graduations Standards. We have chosen one to three “major focus” standards per grade level. Due to the holistic nature of environmental education, several other standards, not listed here, are addressed as well.

• H.S. Sciences : Earth and Space Systems (B2, D)
• H.S. Sciences : Environmental Studies (A)

• 6-8th Sciences: Living Systems (2)
• 6-8th Sciences: Earth Systems (1-3)

• 4-5th Sciences: Living and Non-Living Systems (A1,3,4,5, B1-4)
• 4-5th Inquiry: Media, Observation and Investigation (A)

Wolf Ridge Curriculum Concepts

• All living and non-living components of an environment interact with one another to form an ecosystem.
• Humans have a great ability to alter natural systems, and a responsibility to consider the effects of our actions.
• Everything in nature has intrinsic value which may be beyond our understanding.
• Stewardship of the earth benefits humans as well as the environment.

Classroom Connections*

• Journal page download
• Pre-visit activities
• Post-visit activities
• Links to wetland information and activities on the web

*requires Wolf Ridge password