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| Dallas Zoological Society Partnership : Elementary Life In and Around Water |
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Topic Overview
Quick Facts
It is often a
surprise to think of Texas as a
water-filled area of land. In fact, Texas’ vast wetlands are some of the most diverse in the
world.
Wetlands are
nature’s natural filtering system to clean the earth’s waters. Texas contains a large amount of wetlands near and on its
immense coastlines.
Birds from all
over America and Canada migrate to Texas’s aquatic habitats every year.
There are 3,700
named streams in Texas. There are 15 major rivers in Texas.
The rivers and
streams of Texas stretch across 191,000 miles throughout Texas
There are seven
major estuaries in Texas, which support of 212 reservoirs.
Texas is divided into sixteen regions and there is one designated
Regional Water Planning Group for each region.
Texans spend more
than three billion dollars on fishing, swimming, boating, and water skiing
trips each year.
Irrigation is an
important aspect of farming. Agriculture brings in 45 billion dollars to the Texas economy.
It is illegal to
alter or destroy any wetlands in the United States. Strict laws and harsh penalties are in place to deal
with anyone who attempts to do so.
Begin the Lesson
Texas is comprised of vast wetlands throughout the state.
The myriad rivers and streams flow to form vast aquatic habitats that plants
and animals rely upon. It is important to conserve these water communities
through education and preservation.
Whole Class Introduction to the
Lesson
You will need at least one
computer with Internet connectivity and a projection device, a classroom with
more than one computer, or access to a computer lab.� This introduction will take approximately 10
minutes to complete.
Introduce the lesson by
presenting the preview video, Texas the State of Springs http://www.texasthestateofwater.org/.
�
Sample Questions:
Why are springs so
important to everyone who lives in Texas? (springs are freshwater resources that cannot be
replenished and are vital to the survival of all living organisms)
Describe a time
when you have seen a spring. (students will offer a variety of descriptions of
their experiences)
As part of the introduction, you
may want to review some of the glossary terms in advance of students going
online. At this point you can launch the WebLesson as whole-class activity
using a projection device, or you can assign students to work individually or
in teams in a computer lab.
WebLesson Sites
Introduction Texas is the home to many plants and animals. Many live in water environments. They are the communities where the plants and animals live. They are very different from place to place within Texas. There are numerous rivers, streams, ponds, lakes and even the huge Gulf of Mexico. The aquatic habitats provide homes to a large number of plants and animals.
Scenario You are a duck flying south for the winter from the northern part of the United States. You arrive in Texas; you look for a good place to land, and live. You will explore much of Texas before deciding where to end your long journey.
Lesson Pages
Gulf Coast's Texas
http://www.ucsusa.org/gulf/gcstatetex.html
Dive into Water Conservation
http://www.ci.arlington.tx.us/waterdice/homewaterusage_waterconservation.html Conclusion & Project
Conclusion Texas is the home to many plants and animals. A large number of these organisms live in water communities. The water environments are very different from place to place within Texas. There are rivers, streams, ponds, lakes, and even the huge Gulf of Mexico. They are the homes for many of the animals and plants in Texas.
Project You are a duck and finally ended your long journey to Texas. You chose a beautiful wetland habitat to live. Write a letter home to mother and father duck to tell them about your new home.
Glossary
Gulf - part of the Atlantic Ocean; it is the large body of water that is surrounded by Mexico and South and Southeast United States
watershed - the region draining into a body of water such as rivers and lakes
plateau - a high, flat span of land
topography - study and mapping of the features on the surface of land, including natural features such as mountains and rivers
aquifer - underground layer of soil and gravel that holds water
water table - water table
dam - barrier across a waterway that controls the flow of water
well - deep hole in the earth that holds water
marsh - an area of soft, wet, low-lying land, that contains grassy vegetation
estuary - the area where the salty water from the ocean mixes with the freshwater from the land
sustain - to keep in existence
compass - a device designed for finding directions
migration - a group of animals moving together from one region or country to another
conservation - to prevent loss or damage
preservation - to maintain good condition
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