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Speedy Succession
Fifth graders identify how a pond can change into a grassland. An ecosystems lesson where learners identify pioneer and climax species, and recognize that ecological succession can take up to 100 years or more. Some excellent activities...
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Impervious Surfaces
Middle schoolers comprehend impervious surfaces. They recognize the problems caused by impervous surfaces. Students observe how land use can influence impervious surfaces. They chose four of the seven basic land surface, middle schoolers...
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Wetland vs. Stream Macroinvertebrates
A link to a comprehensive macroinvertebrate guide gives you the information needed to prepare for this field study activity. Sample macroinvertebrates are collected from areas representing different environmental conditions. Junior...
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Introduction to Watsonville Wetlands
Identify the different plants and animals found in wetlands, your class will explain the importance of wetland ecosystem and locate the different wetlands in their area.
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Pond Ecology
A lab activity is a great way to incite thoughtful questioning and scientific processes. Pupils will collect organisms with a Petri dish, make observations, sketch the organism, ask questions, then attempt to identify the specimen...
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Geographic Landforms
Each slide is a simple notebook page with one landform in blue and its definition in red. There are 26 vocabulary terms in all, some you may want to use, and others easily hidden. It is recommended that you add photos or other graphic...
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Making Choices, Setting Goals
Students compare wetland functions and values, and select those to be incorporated in the planned wetland. They formulate goals for the project as they model decision-making skills.
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A Tale of Two Wetlands
Students observe 2 separate wetlands (following downloadable worksheets) and record 10 similarities and 10 differences between them. Then they present their recommendations to the class who roleplay the government's wetland conservation...
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Wet World in Danger
Students investigate the reasons why wetlands are threatened especially by people. They study the wise use of water to preserve wetlands.
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Marine Habitats of Galveston Island
Four lessons introduce elementary ecologists to salt marsh and sandy beach habitats. In the first lesson plan, they place shells and other materials in vinegar to determine if they contain calcium carbonate. In the second lesson plan,...
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Wetlands Field Trip
Seventh graders used aquatic nets and other equipment to sample organisms in the lake -made plaster casts of footprints found around the edges of the lake -used reference materials to identify all organisms collected -filled out an...
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Business Responsibility to Wetlands
Eighth graders discuss the responsibilities of businesses to protect local wetlands. In groups, they participate in numerous activities and create a model of a wetland to discover how it functions. They are given a quiz to end the lesson.
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The Wetlands
Complete a comparison of the wetlands found in New York and Louisiana. Using various research methods, gather data on the wetlands found in New York and Louisiana, the animals, conditions, etc. Data is used to create a brief report on...
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Wetland Water Testing
Students examine the different properties that affect water quality. For this pollution lesson students play a game, complete a hands on activity and computer lab.
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Next Stop, the Watsonville Wetlands
Students study bird migrations and the importance of wetlands. In this migration instructional activity students play a game and complete a computer activity.
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Discovering the Wetlands!
Students name wetland plant and animal life. In this ecosystem instructional activity students go birdwatching and interpret native plants through art.
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What's in Wetland Soil?
Young scholars examine the organic and inorganic components of soil. In this environmental science instructional activity, students identify the factors that influence soil formation. They collect soil samples, conduct tests, and analyze...
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Fieldwork: Horizons Under Ground: Digging Through Wetland Soil
Learners study the different soil types and describe the different soils in various environments. In this soil lesson students walk to a reserve and discuss what they saw.
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Wetland Plant Detectives
Sixth graders identify plants in the wetlands. For this plant detectives lesson, 6th graders complete a scavenger hunt on a local reserve, record observations, and respond in their journals.
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Pollinators and Wildflowers
Students explore how plants depend on pollinators to reproduce. In this pollination lesson students dissect a local flower and collect and identify pollinating insects.
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Field Trip to the Watsonville Wetlands
Students explore the differences between food webs and food chains. In this wetland lesson students play a food web game and go on a scavenger hunt.
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Introduction to Restoration Lesson
Middle schoolers explore how pollution and invasive plants disrupt the ecosystem. In this restoration lesson students list materials that pollute wetlands, how people can keep them clean and ways in which invasive plants establish.
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Where Do Birds Live? Cavity Nesters of the Watsonville Wetlands
Students compare and contrast primary and secondary cavity nesters. In this life science lesson, students explore the different types of nests that birds make. They play a team game to apply what they learned.
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Seeds of Wetland Life
Learners participate in several activities on seed exploration. For this biology lesson, students classify seeds according to their dispersal method. They explain the different adaptations plant have to disperse their seeds.