This activity is an excerpt from the Aloha ʻĀina curriculum created by the Pacific American Foundation in cooperation with the Hawai‘i State Department of Education. |
Fig. 1. Students understand more about the benefits of wetlands in this activity ʻWondering About Wetlands" from Aloha ʻĀina.
Image courtesy of Aloha ʻĀina
Phenomenon:
Wetlands help prevent flooding.
Inquiry:
How do wetlands protect the land and sea?
Activity:
Students help to create a model to simulate the role of wetlands. They predict what will happen to the environment when "wetland areas" are removed from the model, and use the model to test their hypothesis.
Aloha ʻĀina Activity: Wondering About Wetlands
Image caption
Fig. 2. Students build a model of a wetland and explore itsʻ structure and function. Image copyright and source
Image courtesy of Aloha ʻĀina Image caption
Fig. 3. Students in grade 3 explore the wetland. Image copyright and source
Image courtesy of Aloha ʻĀina About the Aloha ʻĀina Curriculum
"Shaping the future, while preserving a heritage, the Aloha ‘Āina Curriculum provides Hawai‘i’s youth with culturally relevant lessons. Since 2005 the Pacific American Foundation and its curriculum writing team has developed a collection of unit and lessons plans that explore, reveal and explain the ahupua‘a land-management system and challenges students to become stewards and scientists who care for the land and preserve the traditions. ‘Āina, that which nourishes, encompasses land, ocean, heavens, land-based water systems, plants and animals. Aloha ‘Āina is a way of life that is evident in Hawaiian practices." |