Wetlands Treasure Hunt
Created by Sandra Luna and Chris Tarleton
Third Grade Teachers at Boone Elementary & Monroe May Elementary, NISD
San Antonio, Texas


(Image retrieved 2/21/03 from http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/)

Introduction:
    Imagine you are walking through a wet, muddy grassy area.  The water is not too deep, but it is a good thing you brought along your boots!  Your feet are sinking in the muddy water!  Roll your pant legs up to your knees so you do get them all wet.  A buzzing sound, "BUZZZZZZ," goes past your ear.  OUCH! You slap away a bug on your arm!  What was that?  A mosquito bit you and goes flying away so you do not get a chance to swat at it again.  You continue your journey through the muddy area and notice the water begins to seep up to your ankles in some parts, especially around the cattails.  You brush aside the cattails and find a pair of ducks hiding among the cattails.  They quack at you, almost as if saying, "Move on!"  You continue on until the water reaches your knees.  You decide you better head back to shore.  On your way back to shore, you see a red-winged blackbird flying by quickly.  It lets out a squawk.  You are amazed by all of the plant and animal life living in this marsh.  You cannot help but wonder what other wetlands are like.  Do they all have the same types of animal and plant life?  Do we need wetlands to survive?  Do the plants and animals need wetlands to survive?

    Print out the question sheet found below.  Use the Internet Resources to help you find the answers to these questions and many more.  When you have finished, answer the BIG QUESTION that asks you to combine all of your learning into one project.


Questions:
    1.  What are the six types of freshwater wetlands?
    2.  Name at least four reasons why wetlands are important.
    3.  List at least four animals that use wetlands as shelter.
    4.  Define bog, marsh, swamp, and prairie pothole.
    5.  Where are wetlands located?
    6.  List at least four types of plant life found in the wetlands.
    7.  Draw a picture of a duckweed.  List two interesting facts from the reading.
    8.  What are adaptations?  List two adaptations of the beaver and describe how they are used by
        the beaver?
    9.  Why are wetlands important to the beaver?
    10. Choose three endangered animals, (or animals at risk of becoming endangered), and explain
         why they are endangered or at risk of becoming endangered.

Challenge Question:  Beaver lodges are mostly made up of four things.  What are they?  List three other important and interesting facts you discovered about beaver lodges.  (Hint...this information can be found on a beaver website under "Engineering Works.")

Big Question:
Using the information you gathered from the above questions, combine your learning to create a project convincing others it is important to protect the wetlands.  You must tell why wetlands are important and describe/show the ways you can help protect them.  You can choose to create a persuasive paper, poster, brochure, or Power Point presentation.


Internet Resources:

*Question Sheet (print one copy per student)

Endangered Species Lair
Earth Endangered
Beaver Resources
Beavers, Beavers, Beavers
Beavers
Beaver Profile
Beaver Bio
Beaver Information
Getting to Know the Beaver
Duckweed
Exploring Wetlands
Wetlands
Introduction to Wetlands
What are Wetlands?
Tour Virtual Wetlands

Extras:
Storybook Adventure

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