What evidence of human activity did you see in the wetland?
How does your organism help the wetland ecosystem?
What do you need for quality of life? How is this like a healthy ecosystem?
Science Outcomes:
Students will research on self-selected organisms to create their own Phylomon cards. Students will become experts on their organisms and will categorize their organisms as primary producer, primary consumer, major consumer, or decomposer. Students will record their findings in their Interdependence Journal for teacher review.
Students will visit a local wetland, guided by a naturalist to discover a live ecosystem and organisms they have been researching.
Students will research a real-world event that would impact a wetland. They will create an event Phylomon card describing how this event would impact the wetland ecosystem. Students will record their findings in their Interdependence Journal for teacher review.
Social Studies Outcomes:
Students will determine the ways in which they can demonstrate care and concern for the wetlands through their research about helpful and hurtful human and environmental events.
Students will appreciate the importance of protected areas through the research of interconnected relationships between organisms in the wetlands for the Phylomon cards.
ELA Outcomes:
By examining the existing Phylomon Game, students will begin their research on the cards they want to chose to add to the database.
Students will use a variety of resources (print and electronic) to research species for their Phylomon cards.
Students will take notes, sort information, and select relevant data to include on their card.
Students will practice good communication skills to interact with the guest speaker, preparing questions ahead of time, and recording what they learn in their journals.
Download weekly unit plan below for a more detailed description of activities: