Implement this lesson:
This lesson can be implement during an ecosystem unit.
Objective:
Students will identify factors that contribute to the decline and destruction of saltwater wetlands as well as steps that can be taken to eliminate or minimize the effects of these factors.
Texas Essential Knowledge and Skills (TEKS)
6.11(A) research and describe why resource management is important in reducing global energy poverty, malnutrition, and air and water pollution
6.11(B) explain how conservation, increased efficiency, and technology can help manage air, water, soil, and energy resources
6.12(A)* investigate how organisms and populations in an ecosystem depend on and may compete for biotic factors such as food and abiotic factors such as availability of light and water, range of temperatures, or soil composition
6.12(B) describe and give examples of predatory, competitive, and symbiotic relationships between organisms, including mutualism, parasitism, and commensalism
6.12(C) describe the hierarchical organization of organism, population, and community within an ecosystem
6.13(A) describe the historical development of cell theory and explain how organisms are composed of one or more cells, which come from pre‐existing cells and are the basic unit of structure and function
6.13(B) identify and compare the basic characteristics of organisms, including prokaryotic and eukaryotic, unicellular and multicellular, and autotrophic and heterotrophic 6.13(C) describe how variations within a population can be an advantage or disadvantage to the survival of a population as environments change
7.10(A)* describe the evidence that supports that Earth has changed over time, including fossil evidence, plate tectonics, and superposition 7.10(B)* describe how plate tectonics causes ocean basin formation, earthquakes, mountain building, and volcanic eruptions, including super volcanoes and hot spots
7.11(A)* analyze the beneficial and harmful influences of human activity on groundwater and surface water in a watershed
7.11(B)* describe human dependence and influence on ocean systems and explain how human activities impact these systems
7.12(A)* diagram the flow of energy within trophic levels and describe how the available energy decreases in successive trophic levels in energy pyramids
7.13(A)* identify and model the main functions of the systems of the human organism, including the circulatory, respiratory, skeletal, muscular, digestive, urinary, reproductive, integumentary, nervous, immune, and endocrine systems
7.13(C)* compare the results of asexual and sexual reproduction of plants and animals in relation to the diversity of offspring and the changes in the population over time
7.13(D)*describe and give examples of how natural and artificial selection change the occurrence of traits in a population over generations
7.14(A) describe the taxonomic system that categorizes organisms based on similarities and differences shared among groups
8.10(A) describe how energy from the Sun, hydrosphere, and atmosphere interact and influence weather
8.10(B) identify global patterns of atmospheric movement and how they influence local weather
8.10(C) describe the interactions between ocean currents and air masses that produce tropical cyclones, including typhoons and hurricanes
8.12(B) describe how primary and secondary ecological succession affect populations and species diversity after ecosystems are disrupted by natural events or human activity
8.12(C) describe how biodiversity contributes to the stability and sustainability of an ecosystem and the health of the organisms within the ecosystem
8.13(A) identify the function of the cell membrane, cell wall, nucleus, ribosomes, cytoplasm, mitochondria, chloroplasts, and vacuoles in plant or animal cells 8.13(C) describe how variations of traits within a population lead to structural, behavioral, and physiological adaptations that influence the likelihood of survival and reproductive success of a species over generations
8.13(B) describe the function of genes within chromosomes in determining inherited traits of offspring
Texas Wetlands — Why They Matter and Why We Should Protect Them
Texas wetlands are amazing, watery places full of plants and animals. They’re found along the Gulf Coast, near rivers, lakes, and bays, and even in inland marshes. Wetlands may look muddy, but they’re full of life and help keep our planet healthy!
What Are Texas Wetlands?
Wetlands are areas where the land stays wet for most or all of the year.
They can be freshwater (like near rivers) or saltwater (like along the Gulf Coast).
Coastal marshes- Grassy, flat areas that flood with saltwater tides
Swamps– Wet forests with tall trees like cypress
Bogs and ponds- small, soggy area full of plant and insects
Who Lives in Texas Wetlands?
Wetlands are home to tons of living things!
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Birds – herons, egrets, ducks, and roseate spoonbills
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Fish & Shrimp – baby fish grow safely in wetland nurseries
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Crabs & Oysters – help clean and filter the water
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Plants – grasses, cattails, mangroves, and seagrasses that hold the soil in place
Why Texas Wetlands Are Important
- Protect the coast-wetlands absorb floodwater and reduce storm damage
- Cleans the water– plants filter out dirt and pollution before it reaches rivers or the ocean
- Wildlife nursery-many fish, crabs, and birds raise their young here
- Helps the climate– Wetlands store carbon, keeping it out of the air and slowing climate change
- Supports people– Wetlands provide food, fishing, and beautiful places for people to explore
Why Wetlands Are in Danger
Sadly, many wetlands have been drained or filled for roads, farms, or buildings.
Pollution and rising sea levels also harm wetland plants and animals.
Why We Should Protect Them
- Don’t litter-keep trash out of waterways
- Respect wildlife areas
- Conserve water
- Learn and share
In Short
Texas wetlands are nature’s superheroes — they protect the coast, clean the water, and give homes to animals. By taking care of wetlands, we take care of our planet and ourselves!
Possible Books:
- Willy Explores the Wonders of Gulf Coast by Jared Knetzer
- The Gulf by Adam de Souza
- Saving American Beaches by MaVynee Betsch
- Hoot by Carl Hiasen
Materials Needed:
- Computers with internet access
- Google Slides or similar program
Lesson Plan:
Engage:
- Have students share what they saw at the wetlands
Explore:
- Begin with a brief discussion on what students have learned in their visit to and study of the saltwater wetlands.
- Challenge students to identify the primary factors that are threatening their local wetlands.
- Have students brainstorm ways the public can participate in preserving and protecting these wetlands.
Explain:
- Explain common threats and why they are important
Explore:
- Begin with a brief discussion on what students have learned in their visit to and study of the saltwater wetlands.
- Challenge students to identify the primary factors that are threatening their local wetlands.
- Have students brainstorm ways the public can participate in preserving and protecting these wetlands.
Evaluate:
- Allow students time to present and explain their project to the class