The Living & Non-Living Wetland

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1 The Living & Non-Living Wetland Grade Level Kindergarten to Second Learner Objectives Students will: Understand and define living and non living Identify three examples of living and non living things in a wetland Discover two examples of living and non living things working together Getting Ready! Read background information Duration Prep Time: 15 minutes Activity time: 60 minutes Vocabulary Habitat Hydrology Hydric Hydrophytic Living Marsh Mudflat Non living Peat Permanent Marsh Seasonal Marsh Wetland Materials Wetland Living & Non Living Cards Pencils Clipboards Worksheets Living & Non living Scavenger Hunt Worksheet Summary Students will complete a scavenger hunt through the wetland to find living and nonliving things. Background Information A habitat is the arrangement of food, water, shelter, and space suitable for the needs of a plant or animal to survive. Different habitats support different communities of flora and fauna. Wetland habitats across North American support a large diversity of animals. A wetland is an area that is covered with water for all or part of the year. It is the transition zone between open water and land. Wetlands are classified by hydrology, hydric (saturated) soils, and hydrophytic (water tolerant) plant communities. Wetlands are generally thought of as coastal or inland. Coastal wetlands include tidal marshes, estuaries, and marine environments. Inland wetlands include a variety of marshes, swamps, and fens. Inland marshes include freshwater marshes, wet meadows, wet prairies, prairie potholes, playas, and vernal pools. Swamps include forested bogs, shrub swamps, and mangrove swamps. Fens are peat forming wetlands that receive nutrients and water from upslope sources through drainage rather than precipitation. Wetland classification depends on the source of water, the presence or absence of peat, and dominant large vegetation. For example, the word marsh describes a wetland with non woody vegetation that grows taller than the water (e.g. cattails). On the other hand, a swamp is dominated by trees. Fens are dominated by grasses, sedges, and wildflowers. The Klamath Basin Refuge Complex consists of a variety of habitats including freshwater marshes, open water bodies, grassy meadows, coniferous forests, sagebrush and juniper grasslands, agricultural lands, and rocky cliffs and slopes. These habitats support diverse and abundant populations of resident and migratory wildlife with 433 species having been observed on or near the Refuges. In addition, each year the Refuges serve as a migratory stopover for about three quarters of the Pacific US Fish and Wildlife Service Klamath Basin Refuge Complex Wetland Curriculum US Fish & Wildlife Service & Klamath Bird Observatory 2012 Version 1.0

2 Lesson Plan Flyway waterfowl, with peak fall concentrations of over 1 million birds. Along the Discovery Marsh trail you can find examples of three different types of wetlands habitats. Permanent wetlands will stay wet and retain water all year long, making them ideal stop over habitats for migrating waterfowl. Seasonal wetlands will have standing water for a portion of the year and will be dry for the remaining months. During dry periods, these wetlands are often farmed to grow grain and grasses, which provide birds with a food source; during wet months, the food source is underwater making these habitats ideal for diving and dabbling ducks. Moist soil wetlands, or mudflats, that are rich with many different species of macroinvertebrates living in the mud are ideal shorebird habitats. All habitats, including wetlands, are made up of living and non living things. These living and non living things interact and living things often depend on non living things for survival. A living thing is defined as something that grows, reproduces, eats, breathes, and reacts to the environment. It is important to remember that not all living things move, plants and some animals are stationary or sedentary, but are still alive. A non living thing does not reproduce, eat, or breathe. However, a non living thing can be affected by or changed by the environment an example of this would be rocks weathering or soil eroding. Non living things provide food, water, and shelter to many living things in any given habitat. For example the sun is non living and it provides food for plants. Water provides ducks with a place to land, rest, and feed. Discuss! 1. Tell the students they will be investigating a wetland habitat and the living and nonliving things found in a wetland. 2. Ask students to define a habitat and the four components that make up a habitat. A habitat is the arrangement of food, water, shelter, and space necessary for a plant or animal to survive. 3. Encourage students to then list several different types of habitats. 4. Ask students what makes a wetland different from other types of habitats and define a wetland. A wetland is an area that is covered with water for all or part of the year and is defined by the amount of water saturation, soil, and plant communities. 5. Tell students that all habitats are made up of living and non living things. Brainstorm a list of what makes something living (breathes, grows, eats, reproduces, and interacts and reacts to changes to the environment) and the characteristics of non living things (does not reproduce, eat, or breathe). 6. Have students brainstorm a list of things found in a wetland. 7. Show students pictures of things found in a wetland and ask them if these things are living or non living. 8. Discuss with students how living and non living things interact and are connected to one another in a habitat. US Fish and Wildlife Service Klamath Basin Refuge Complex Wetland Curriculum US Fish & Wildlife Service & Klamath Bird Observatory 2012 Version 1.0

3 Lesson Plan Investigate! 1. Pass out clip boards and scavenger hunt worksheets and explain that students are going to work together in groups to find examples of living and non living things in the Walking Wetlands. 2. Explain that this scavenger hunt doesn t include collecting anything because this is a wildlife refuge and we don t take things (usually) off of a Wildlife Refuge. 3. Go outside and start exploring! Wrap up & Review! Have the students raise their hands if they found at least 1 item, 3 items, and so forth until you get to all the items. Then have students share anything they may have found in addition to what was on the list. US Fish and Wildlife Service Klamath Basin Refuge Complex Wetland Curriculum US Fish & Wildlife Service & Klamath Bird Observatory 2012 Version 1.0

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14 Name: Date: Student Worksheet: Living & Non-Living Scavenger Hunt Write or draw the living and non living things you find as you explore the wetlands around Discovery Marsh. Living Things Non Living Things US Fish and Wildlife Service Klamath Basin Refuge Complex Wetland Curriculum Klamath Bird Observatory 2012 Version 1.0