Freshwater Tidal Wetlands

Students brainstorm and share what they already know about wetlands, and sketch a simple tidal marsh diagram with vegetation zones and appropriate organisms. 

Students will know the functions of wetlands and will be able to explain at least one function performed by wetlands.

Students will know how plants are able to remove nitrate pollution, and will be able to compare differences in nitrate uptake by aquatic or terrestrial plants.

Students will know the benefits of different types of plants in each tidal zone of a tidal marsh wetland and will be able to design a wetland based on specific provided requirements.  

Students will know how sea level rise may impact a local freshwater tidal marsh, and will be able to explain the changes to vegetation types. 

Students will know how tides affect plant community distribution and nutrient uptake in a freshwater tidal wetland and will be able to investigate their ideas through a field trip to the wetland.