Implement this lesson:
Implement this during the earth and space unit. (Cross-Curricular with Writing)
Learning Objective:
Students will visit different water bodies to identify the difference in freshwater vs saltwater ecosystems. Students will then write a book on their similarities and differences.
Science TEKS
K.10(B) identify basic parts of plants and animals
K.10(A) sort plants and animals into groups based on physical characteristics such as color, size, body covering, or leaf shape
1.9(B) analyze and record examples of interdependence found in various situations such as terrariums and aquariums or pet and caregiver
1.10(A) investigate how the external characteristics of an animal are related to where it lives, how it moves, and what it eats
2.10(A) observe, record, and compare how the physical characteristics and behaviors of animals help them meet their basic needs
2.10(B) observe, record, and compare how the physical characteristics of plants help them meet their basic needs such as stems carry water throughout the plant
2.10(C) investigate and record some of the unique stages that insects such as grasshoppers and butterflies undergo during their life cycle
ELA TEKS
K.3(B) use illustrations and texts the student is able to read or hear to learn or clarify word meanings
K.5(B) generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information with adult assistance
K.5(E) make connections to personal experiences, ideas in other texts, and society with adult assistance
1.9(D) recognize characteristics and structures of informational text, including: (ii) features and simple graphics to locate or gain information
1.6(C) make and correct or confirm predictions using text features, characteristics of genre, and structures with adult assistance
2.6(B) generate questions about text before, during, and after reading to deepen understanding and gain information
2.6(I) monitor comprehension and make adjustments such as re‐reading, using background knowledge, checking for visual cues, and asking questions when understanding breaks down
Overview:
Saltwater Bays vs. Freshwater Coastal Potholes
Along the Texas Gulf Coast, there are many different types of wetlands and coastal habitats. Two common ones are saltwater bays and freshwater coastal potholes. Both are crucial for wildlife and the health of the coastal environment, but they are very different in salinity, species, and function.
Saltwater Bay Ecosystems
- Found along the Gulf of Mexico and connected to the ocean
- Examples: Corpus Christi Bay, Galveston Bay, Matagorda Bay
- Salty or brackish water (a mix of saltwater and freshwater)
- Influenced by tides, currents, and river inflows
- Contain estuaries, seagrass beds, oyster reefs, and tidal marshes
Wildlife
- Home to shrimp, crabs, oysters, sea trout, redfish, mullet, and dolphins
- Important stopovers for shorebirds and seabirds
- Nursery habitat for young marine fish and invertebrates
Plants
- Include seagrasses, mangroves (in some areas), and salt-tolerant marsh grasses
- Plants must be able to handle salty, shifting conditions
Role in the Ecosystem
- Provide nurseries for young fish and shellfish
- Help filter water and trap sediment
- Protect coastlines from erosion and storms
Freshwater Coastal Pothole Ecosystems
- Found inland but near the coast, especially in South Texas coastal prairies
- Small, shallow depressions that fill with rainwater or runoff
- Hold freshwater, not connected to saltwater
- Often temporary or seasonal, drying up during droughts
- Surrounded by grasses, wildflowers, and shrubs
Wildlife
- Attract frogs, toads, turtles, dragonflies, and freshwater fish
- Provide drinking and breeding water for deer, raccoons, and other land animals
- Important for migrating birds, like ducks, wading birds, and songbirds
Plants
- Grow wetland grasses, sedges, and aquatic plants
- Support rare species like Texas coastal prairie grasses
- No saltwater, so plants are not salt-tolerant
Role in the Ecosystem
- Store floodwater and help recharge groundwater
- Support diverse species, especially during migration
- Act as natural filters, improving water quality
Fun Facts
- Saltwater bays are some of the most productive ecosystems in the world
- Potholes may look small, but they support big bird migrations every year
- Many endangered species depend on both ecosystems at different life stages
- Potholes are sometimes called “wetlands in miniature”
| Feature | Saltwater Bays | Freshwater Coastal Potholes |
|---|---|---|
| Water Type | Saltwater or brackish | Freshwater only |
| Size | Large bodies of water | Small, shallow depressions |
| Connection to Ocean | Connected via inlets or rivers | Not connected to ocean |
| Wildlife | Marine animals, oysters, fish | Amphibians, birds, small mammals |
| Plant Life | Salt-tolerant grasses, seagrass | Grasses, sedges, freshwater plants |
| Importance | Fish nurseries, storm protection | Bird habitat, water storage |
Possible Books:
- Over and Under the Wetlands by Kate Messner
- Fun in the Mud: A Wetlands Tale by Sally Bolger
- Over the Wetlands by Caroline Rose
- Squish! A Wetlands Walk by Nancy Luenn
- Meadowlands: A Wetlands Survival Story
- Marshes and Swamps by Gail Gibbons
Procedures
- Do a quick warm up by reading When the Rain Falls by Melissa Steward (other books possible include https://www.google.com/search?q=childrens+books+on+wetlands&rlz=1C5MACD_enUS1028US1030&oq=childrens+books+on+wetlands&gs_lcrp=EgZjaHJvbWUyBggAEEUYOTIICAEQABgWGB4yCggCEAAYgAQYogTSAQg1MjA1ajBqN6gCALACAA&sourceid=chrome&ie=UTF-8)
- Ask students what is the difference between freshwater and saltwater, do we have both in our area, do difference animals live in them, what about plants?
- Walk students to freshwater wetlands and let them explore. When back in the classroom or possibly at the wetlands have them write and draw in their science journals about their findings
- Repeat step 3 the next day with saltwater wetlands
- Discuss the difference and similarities between each with a venn diagram
- Students create a mini book
Students Generated Mini Book
- A freshwater wetlands is____
- A saltwater wetland is____
- One thing that makes them different is ___
- One thing that makes them similar is ____
- I enjoyed the ____ best because ______
Evaluations:
- Student participation
- Student created mini book
Extensions:
- Students write a fiction or nonfiction story about a wetlands
- Students create their own model of a wetlands using maker space materials
- Students complete various wetlands worksheets and lessons
- Students can read other books or research about other types of wetlands and marine habitats