Learning Activity

Living Things in the Wetland Ecosystem

Subject Area

Science

Grade(s)

2

Overview

The purpose of this activity is to determine prior knowledge of plants and animals found in a wetlands ecosystem. The teacher will show examples of southeastern ecosystems from the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit. The image provides five examples of ecosystems found in the southern United States. Using a shoulder partner, students will determine if the photograph shows a wetlands ecosystem. Student partners will defend their conclusion verbally. 

This learning activity was created as a result of the ALEX - Alabama Virtual Library (AVL) Resource Development Summit.

Science (2015) Grade(s): 2

SC15.2.7

Obtain information from literature and other media to illustrate that there are many different kinds of living things and that they exist in different places on land and in water (e.g., woodland, tundra, desert, rainforest, ocean, river).

Unpacked Content

UP:SC15.2.7

Vocabulary

  • Literature
  • Media
  • Diversity
  • Habitats
  • Woodland
  • Tundra
  • Desert
  • Rainforest
  • Ocean
  • River

Knowledge

Students know:
  • Plants and animals are diverse within different habitats.

Skills

Students are able to:
  • Obtain information from literature and other media.
  • Illustrate the different kinds of living things and the different habitats in which they can be found.

Understanding

Students understand that:
  • There are many different kinds of living things in any area, and they exist in different places on land and in water.

Scientific and Engineering Practices

Obtaining, Evaluating, and Communicating Information

Crosscutting Concepts

Patterns

Phase

Before/Engage
Learning Objectives

Learning Objectives

Students will utilize information from an image to determine if the image shows an example of a wetlands ecosystem and defend their thinking orally.

Activity Details

  1. The teacher will review the definition of an ecosystem. The teacher will say, "An ecosystem is a group of animals and plants that work together with their surroundings" (Glossary definition from "Wetlands." PebbleGo, Capstone, 13 June 2023, https://www.pebblego.com/.)
  2. The teacher will access and project the collage photo example of southeastern ecosystems found in the U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit. https://toolkit.climate.gov/image/3201
  3. The teacher will say,  "The five photographs that you will view are examples of ecosystems found in our area of the United States. You will have five minutes to view the five pictures, talk with your partner, and make your decision. When I say 'time',  you will hold up a green card if you think it is an example of a wetland ecosystem. If you don't think it is an example of a wetland ecosystem, you will hold up a red card."
  4. Working with a shoulder partner, students will discuss and determine if the pictured ecosystems are an example of a wetlands ecosystem.
  5. The teacher will circulate the room to ensure students' conversation stays on-task. The teacher will pass out the green and red cards to each student as they circulate through the room.
  6. Students will show a green card if they agree (it is a wetland) or a red card if they disagree (not a wetland) for each of the five photographs. 
  7. The teacher will question students about their choices and the students will orally defend their choice by explaining whether or not they considered the pictured ecosystem a wetland.
  8. The teacher will provide students with the correct answers as they progress through the images. 
Assessment Strategies

Assessment Strategies

Students will use a red card to show they disagree that the photograph/image is an example of a wetlands ecosystem.

Students will use a green card to show they agree that the photograph/image is an example of a wetlands ecosystem.

Students will defend their conclusion verbally. 

The card choice and oral defense will be a formative assessment of students' prior knowledge of a wetland ecosystem. 

Acceleration

Students who are already familiar with the wetland ecosystem could draw additional images of their understanding of a wetlands ecosystem or could use an internet-capable device to find other photos of types of wetlands ecosystems including marshes, swamps, or bogs.

Intervention

The teacher may pre-select the shoulder partners to support struggling learners.

Variation Tips

If a projector is unavailable, color copies of the image could be printed and laminated (if planning to use them more than once) and given to student partners. 

This lesson could be implemented in the classroom or library as an opening activity for ecosystem research.

This task can be used as a stand-alone activity or in conjunction with Researching the Wetlands Ecosystem (during activity) or Researching the Wetlands Ecosystem Reflection (after activity).

Approximate Duration

Total Duration

16 to 30 Minutes

Related Learning Activities

Learning Activity (Before)

Living Things in the Wetland Ecosystem

Learning Activity (During)

Researching the Wetlands Ecosystem

Learning Activity (After)

Researching Wetlands Ecosystem Reflection

Background and Preparation

Background / Preparation

Prior to this activity, the teacher will:

  • Use a whiteboard, chart paper, or created slide to display the definition of an ecosystem. Definition: An ecosystem is a group of animals and plants that work together with their surroundings
  • Access the photograph/image https://toolkit.climate.gov/image/3201
  • Create red and green choice cards using construction paper for each student. Any size will work. If using choice cards often, lamination is recommended.

Background/Preparation:

Students will need to understand who their shoulder partner is.

The teacher will need to review the definition of the word ecosystem.

The photo collage includes the following ecosystems (top row, left to right): wetlands, coral reef (bottom row, left to right) conifer forest, temperate forest, beach

Materials and Resources

Materials and Resources

The teacher will need the following:

  • A device that can connect to the internet
  • Projector
  • Pre-made red/green choice cards for each student

Digital Tools / Resources

U.S. Climate Resilience Toolkit: Examples of Southeast Ecosystems
https://toolkit.climate.gov/image/3201

Approved Date

Owner (Author)

Michelle Barnett
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