Category/Subjects:
Instructor:
Title Of Activity:
Grade Level:

Science, Geology
Shawn Hoffelt
Wow, I Made a Wetland
1-8

Objectives

Students will learn how wetland depressions were formed by glaciers and how they influence today's land users.

Standards Addressed

Booklet, ND Prairie Wetlands from ND Chapter of Wildlife Society, PO Box 1442, Bismarck, ND 58502-1442, container-5"x4"(plastic containers, loafpan,etc), sand, preferrably damp, ice cubes or ice chunk, hairdryer (optional)or place in sun, wetland videos (optional) from ND Wetlands Institute, 1501 N 12th St, Bismarck, ND 58501, (701)223-8332.

Time Requirement

40 minutes +

Procedure/outline

Discuss/review wetlands in ND (ND Wetland Discovery Guide) and ND Prairie Wetlands. Follow with activity: place 2" sand on bottom of container-place/bury ice cubes into surface of sand-cover ice with sand, pack sand around cubes, wait for ice to melt, use hair dryer (optional)-after ice melts, a depression will form-this is how a majority of wetland basins were formed by glacial activity. Use the booklet, ND Prairie Wetlands for further discussion on wetlands, how ND wetlands are threateded, why wetlands are important. View wetlands videos.

Modifications/Adaptions/ Extensions

Try different types of soil for the experiment. See if different rates of melting affect the depression formed by the ice cube.

Assessment

Have individual student describe the activity in their own words and tell why wetlands are important.

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