Wetlands Education Family Science Night

Steps for planning your evening…

At least 4 weeks prior to the event…

  • Select a date and time
  • Make arrangements for location

We used the gym for the gathering and presentation then moved into the cafeteria where the stations were all setup for the families.

  • Recruiting volunteers and helpers

We invited graduate students from our local university, a representative from the local water board, a representative from local NERR project.

  • Collect door prizes Many of the local governmental agencies, non-profits, local business and merchants that promote wetlands and benefit from their existence are usually happy to provide something as a prize.
  • Notify local newspaper or media of upcoming event

Week before…

  • Arrange for pictures to be taken
  • Gather needed materials and make needed copies
  • Send notices home to families inviting to event
  • Include students in plans

The children can be the best promoters of these events if they are excited and want to participate, (i.e., make name plates, write invites, practice “Live Theater”)

Sequence of Events for evening

  • 6:00-6:10 Opening and arrival“Live Theater”
  • 6:10-6:30 Power Point Presentation
  • 6:30-7:20 Stations
  • 7:20-7:30 Awarding of door prizes and thanks

Preparations and materials for stations…Live Theater

  • Sign in sheet to keep track of attendance
  • Print Wetland Passports on cardstock

Power Point Presentation

  • Arrange for computer, screen and LCD

Stations Station #1 Archeologist

  • Collect Artifacts and display in wading pool of sand
    • +can of crab
    • +commercial and sport fishing lurefilm container
    • brochure from a hunting or fishing-guide
    • kayak trail map
    • +duck stamp
    • binoculars
    • +field guide to birds or wetland plants
    • book of nature poetry
    • empty soft drink can
    • kayak paddle
    • +sport fishing or hunting license
    • +canned shrimp

Station #2 Computer Explore of LA

  • Obtain CD from USGS Test CD in computers prior to event Setup computers or laptops Note: Will you need an extension cord?

Station #3 Food Web of Red Fish Bay

  • Copy onto cardstock, cut and laminate Redfish Bay Game food web cards

Station #4 Vocabulary Match

  • Copy onto card stock, cut and laminate vocabulary cards Copy vocabulary keyNote: At this station we were fortunate enough to have a local university set up a model wetland for us complete with plants and critters.

Station #5 Filter System

  • Gather needed materials, arrange for disposal of leftover and used materials. Note: At this station we invited the local water board to set-up a display explaining how our water treatment center works.

Station #6 Wetland Metaphors

  • Collect objects and copy list of functions

Station #7 Local NERR project

  • Check with nearest NERR project for poster and possible representative.

Station #8 Fish Fractions

  • Copy fish pictures onto cardstock, bag into ziplock bags, write questions to match bag of fishOR Collect fish in sample jars from local wetland and make questions to match sample jars

Station #9 Nutria

  • Copy anticipation guides and key, provide pencils.

Station #10 Life Cycles of Mosquitoes

  • Copy sets of sequence cards onto cardstock and cut apart. Note: Nice if you can have water samples with mosquito larva available for viewing.

Station #11 Pond Water

  • Gather scopes, pipettes, chambers (or slides), and fresh pond water with living plankton.Note: We were given brine shrimp by one of the graduate students so students had some lively viewing.

Station #12 Create a bird

  • Copy bird body parts onto transparency and cut apart, make copy of a fact sheet on beak, feet and leg types or use a poster explaining specific bird adaptations.

Station #13 Wetland Habitats

  • Copy Wetland Habitats Flow Chart and activity cards from WOW The Wonders of Wetlands, An Educator Guide.

Station #14 Take a Peek at the TEKS

  • Make copies of student TEKS checklists for grade 3-5 Science, Language Arts and Math.Downloadable forms available at http://grate.home.texas.net/TEKS/ for grade 3-5 Science, Language Arts and Math.

List of Stations

  • Station #1 Archeologist
  • Station #2 Computer Explore of LA
  • Station #3 Food Web of Red Fish Bay
  • Station #4 Wetland Vocabulary Match
  • Station #5 Filter System (Water treatment center representative)
  • Station #6 Wetland Metaphors
  • Station #7 Local NERR project
  • Station #8 Fish Fractions
  • Station #9 Nutria
  • Station #10 Life Cycles of Mosquitoes
  • Station #11 Pond Water
  • Station #12 Create a Bird
  • Station #13 Wetland Habitats
  • Station #14 Take a Peek at the TEKS

After event…

  • Clean-up
  • Return materials
  • Thank volunteers and donators

Useful Websites and Links for Educators

The following websites were used in the planning and presenting of the Port Aransas Wetland Family Night.

Specific websites are referenced at the bottom of each station activity.

Wetland Education

International Organizations

Environmental Concern Inc.
www.wetland.org

Federal and National Organizations

Estuaries
http://www.estuaries.gov/

National Estuarine Research Reserve System
http://nerrs.noaa.gov/

National Marine Education
U.S. Environmental Protection Agency – Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
http://www.epa.gov/owow/wetlands/

Surfrider Foundation – Wetlands Why You Should Care
http://www.surfrider.org/a-z/wetlands.asp

US Fish and Wildlife Service - National Wetlands Inventory
http://www.nwi.fws.gov/educator.htm

United States Geological Survey – Fragile Fringe
http://www.nwrc.usgs.gov/fringe/ff_index.html

USGS – Science Topics
http://www.usgs.gov/science/science.php?term=1236&type=feature

Whopping Crane Conservation Association
http://www.whoopingcrane.com/ 

State Organizations

Louisiana

Barataria Terrebone National Estuary Program
http://educators.btnep.org/default.asp?id=56

LA Coast
http://lacoast.gov/

LA Coast - The Coastal Wetlands Planning, Protection and Restoration Act (CWPPRA)
http://www.lacoast.gov/cwppra/index.htm

Texas

Aransas National Wildlife Refuge
http://www.fws.gov/southwest/refuges/texas/aransas.html

Coastal Bend Bays and Estuaries Program
http://www.cbbep.org/

Galveston Bay Estuary Program
http://www.gbep.state.tx.us/

General Land Office
http://www.glo.state.tx.us
http://www.glo.state.tx.us/wetnet/links.html#Wetland

Texas Parks Wildlife Department
http://www.tpwd.state.tx.us/landwater/water/habitats/wetland/

Virginia

Virginia Naturally
http://www.vanaturally.com/teachers.html

Marine Educators

Bridge
Sea Grant Ocean Sciences Education Center
http://www.vims.edu/bridge/   

COSEE - Centers for Ocean Sciences Education Excellence
http://www.cosee.net/

COSEE - Central Gulf of Mexico
http://cosee-central-gom.org/

National Marine Educators Association
http://www.marine-ed.org/

Texas Marine Educators Association
http://statweb.org/TMEA/ 

UTMSI GK12
http://www.utmsi.utexas.edu/people/staff/dunton/GK12/home.htm