How to Teach Children About Wetlands

Wetlands are a crucial environmental feature found in almost every part of the world. Unfortunately, many of these beautiful areas are becoming endangered. If children learn about the importance of wetlands, there is a better chance that they will grow up to care about them and to act in ways that will preserve these fragile areas.

Instructions

• 1

  Show children pictures of various wetlands and ask them how each one is important. The Environmental Protection Agency's website has excellent pictures. Ask children to draw their own picture of a wetland and to talk about what they have drawn.

• 2

  Have children create terrariums. Make some of the terrariums with potting soil, some with rocks, some with clay, some with peat and some with sand. Ask the children to observe how their terrariums react when water is applied; which erodes easily, which is most absorbent and which drains the fastest.

• 3

  Help children make a 3-D shoebox diorama of a wetland, complete with soil, land forms, environmental features and miniature plants and animals. This is a great way to help kids think about the ways that wetlands are important.

• 4

  Visit wetlands in your area and help children understand the differences between different types of wetlands, such as bogs, marshes, riparian areas and swamps. Ask them to walk around and talk about what they see, including animals, plants and anything unusual that they notice, including soil appearance or odor.

• 5

  Involve your children's school in creating a schoolyard habitat, which can include a small pond or water trough, nesting boxes, bird feeders, study areas and trails. Ask the children to keep a journal about what they see in the habitat and any changes that occur.