Environmental Detectives On-site Activities

Environmental Detectives - On-site Activities/Interpreter Led

Grade Level: 4
Content Area: Science
Time to Complete: 2 hours
Title of Lesson: Environmental Detectives

South Carolina State Standards Addressed:

II.A.1.a.	Identify the basic characteristics of a salt marsh, brackish water pond, maritime forest, beach and dune environments.
II.A.1.b.	Observe the diversity of life forms (vertebrate/invertebrate animals and plants).
II.A.1.c.	Discuss the basic needs of different organisms and how the environment meets these needs..
II.A.2.b.	Observe the behavior of organisms that are influenced by the tides and weather.
II.A.2.c.	Discuss and observe how animals sensory organs detect external cues from the tides and the weather.
II.A.3.a.	Observe and identify characteristics and behaviors of animals that are inherited.
II.A.3.b.	Identify, describe, and discuss characteristics that are learned behaviors, which enable the organisms to survive in an environment.
II.A.3.c.	Distinguish major groups of plants and animals in the different habitats based on specific characteristics.
II.B.2.a.	Observe and discuss how animals may benefit their environments.
II.B.3.a.	Observe and discuss the changes caused by humans.
II.B.3.d.	Relate how human population growth has effected the environments at Huntington Beach.

Lesson Description:

The students will be introduced to the following environments: salt marsh, brackish water pond, maritime forest, dune and ocean. When the students arrive they will be given a booklet to be completed as they visit the different environments.

Focus Question For Students:

1.	How is the salt marsh and brackish water ponds different?
2.	How are they alike?
3.	What are some of the characteristics of maritime forests, dunes, beaches, brackish water ponds and salt marshes?
4.	What are some of the dominant plants and animals in each environment?

Culminating Assessment:

1.	At the end of each visit to the different areas, students will discuss their findings and notate them in their booklet.
2.	Students will discuss the differences and similarities between the environments found in the park.

Material/Equipment/Resources:

Environmental Detectives booklet

pencil

clipboard

Teacher Preparation:

Read lesson activities completely and contact Huntington Beach State Park with any concerns or modifications. Implement pre-site activities several days before the scheduled program. Plan adequate time for post-site activities in order to reinforce topics discussed in the program. Read background information.

Background Information:

The following are different environments the students will visit. Familiarize the students with each area's description.

Mullet Pond:	(on the right as you come over the causeway) The water in this marsh is called brackish because it is fresh water that contains a small amount of salt.
Salt Marsh:	(on the left as you come over the causeway) This coastal wetland is between the ocean and land. A unique community of organisms that is adapted to the salt water which is controlled by the ever changing tide.
Maritime Forest:	These woodlands by the sea are especially adapted for survival in the sandy soil and strong ocean winds containing salt and sand.
Dunes:	These are mounds of sand formed when winds blow across the beach. Whenever a plant or an object stops the wind, the sand it is carrying is dropped and dunes are formed.
Beaches:	These occur where the ocean waves and currents deposit sand along an open shore line.

Procedures:

1.	The students will be met at the causeway parking lot (after you cross the causeway, go right and there is a parking lot immediately to the left) where they will be given their booklets and instructions for the program.
2.	Starting on the Mullet Pond side of the causeway, we will walk down the sidewalk discussing the plants, animals and conditions governing the life in this body of water. We will then cross over the causeway to observe the life and conditions in the salt marsh. Water samples will be taken from both sides and tested for salinity.
3.	When the students return to the parking lot they will discuss and complete the comparison sheet in their booklet.
4.	The class will then go to the North Parking lot where they will observe the maritime forest, dunes and beach environments. The students will be shown plants, animal signs and told some of the different uses the early Americans had for some of the plants.** A water sample will also be taken from the ocean and tested for salinity.
5.	When the students return to the parking lot, they will discuss and complete the questions in their booklet.

**Plants and their uses by early Americans that will be found on the north boardwalk.

1.	wax myrtle: leaves and berries used in making candles, leaf tea used for fevers, root tea for jaundice
2.	eastern red cedar: fruit tea for colds, rheumatism and coughs, fruit chewed for canker sores, leaf stream inhaled for colds, bronchitis
3.	camphorweed: as a tea for fever and colds, rubbed on insects stings (may cause rash)
4.	oaks (acorns): 50% of deer's diet in winter, soaked to take out tannic acid
5.	yucca: deer stretch neck over pointed leaves to get fruit, ropes and mats made from leaf fibers
6.	dog fennel: leaves rubbed on insect bites
7.	yaupon holly: used as a tea

A good bit of time may be taken up on the causeway. If there is time when you get to the beach, take a suction tube and try to find critters in the sand. A great idea also in the warmer weather is to take scoops and look for Ant Lions. These are found beside the boardwalk (left side) or past the showers in the sand on the right of the boardwalk. In the spring they create Ant Lions create pits in the sand where they can catch prey.