Understanding Wetlands Class

Investigate the part Armand Bayou Nature Center plays in maintaining the balance of nature in the Galveston Bay Watershed. Discover wetlands' importanceas you actively explore the nature center.

Two main variations of the Understanding Wetlands class are available. The first focuses on wetland characteristics, including soil and plants. This class is best done in the cooler months when the nature center truly is wet! The second class variant features water quality and watersheds and may be done anytime during the school year. All classes include outdoor explorations, such as seining, water testing, hiking, dip netting, and near-shore activities. Call the nature center to select the activities and class features that fit most closely with your curriculum.

Grades	5^th-8^th OR 9^th - 12^th
Time	9:30am -1:00pm - includes a short lunch break
Dates	September - November & February - May (Tuesday - Friday)
Class Limit	Minimum 15, maximum 45 (including teachers and chaperones). A 10-to-1 ratio of students to adults is required.
Fee	$10.00 per participant (students and adults, with the exception of teachers, who are free of charge)

Please see the field trip planner for more information about scheduling a field trip. (Call 281-474-2551 x 13 for class dates and to enroll.)

Participants will need bag lunches to eat onsite. They should also expect to get wet and dirty and should bring a change of clothes!

Class Overview

The following objectives, vocabulary, and TEKs may be addressed during this field trip.

Objectives

Students will:

Use indicator species to infer the water quality of wetlands.
Use observations and scientific measurements to judge water quality.
Observe how plant communities work as a buffer to decrease the effects of pollution.
Observe how pollution affects water quality in estuarine and freshwater ecosystems.

Vocabulary

Abiotic – non-living or physical components such as light, temperature, water, rocks, etc.
Bayou – a small, slow-moving body of water that may flow in both directions
Brackish water – a mixture of salt and fresh water
Diversity – variety of species in a given area
Ecosystem – An ecosystem is a complex, dynamic system that functions as a whole. An ecosystem is a natural unit and its size can be as small as a drop of water or as large as the Earth. Ecosystems consist of the interactions between organisms and between organisms and physical components, in which materials are exchanged following closed paths.
Salinity – salt content of water
Turbidity – measure of the clarity of water; how much turbulence or activity (tides, wind, etc.)
Biotic - living things
Competition – Two or more organisms simultaneous demand for limited resources, e.g. nutrients, water, light, space, etc.
Dichotomous Key – a key for identifying organisms based on choices between two alternating characteristics
Erosion – process material is worn away by wind and water
Indicator Species – indicates the presence of an environmental condition
Tolerance – organism ability to live in poor water conditions - low oxygen levels
Water quality - term to describe the chemical, biological, and physical characteristics of water
Watershed - a complex system of components that affect water bodies in a drainage basin. Climate, rainfall, geology, geography, and human activities are some of the factors that interact with water within a given drainage system.
Weathering – a chemical or mechanical process that breaks down an exposed object

TEKS (2009-2010 or 2010-2011 Science)

5.1(A&B), 5.2(B,C&D), 5.4A, 5.9(A&C)
6.1(A&B), 6.2(B&C), 6.4A, 6.12E
7.1(A&B), 7.2(B&C), 7.4A, 7.8C, 7.10(A&B), 7.11A
8.1(A&B), 8.2(B&C), 8.4A, 8.11(B&D)
9^th-12^th Grades:
- Biology 1(A&B), 2B, 8A, 12C
- Environmental Systems 1(A&B), 2B, 4(A&C), 8(A&D)
- Aquatic Science 1(A&B), 2B, 4(A,B&C), 7A, 8D, 10C

*Pre and post trip activities address additional TEKS.

Pre and Post Trip Materials (PDF Format)

Download the complete set of Understanding Wetlands materials in a compressed zip format.

“Filthy water cannot be washed.” –African proverb