WAVES, WETLANDS, AND WATERSHEDS

1 Curriculum DeveloperJulia Copple DavenportEditorsAnnie Kohut FrankelChristiane ParryArtworkMary SievertWAVES, WETLANDS, AND WATERSHEDSC alifornia Coastal CommissionScience Activity GuideWaves, Wetlands, and WATERSHEDS is a classroom based hands-on activityguide that integrates California Coastal Commission areas of criticalconcern (wetlands, coastal processes, marine debris and pollution, andendangered species) with California Science Content Standards forgrades three through eight. Also included are community actionactivities for all ages and California Coastal Commission was established by voter initiativein 1972 and made permanent by the Legislature in 1976 with thepassage of the California Coastal Act. Its mission is to protect andenhance the resources of the California coast and ocean for current andfuture generations. In addition to planning and regulatory functions,the Commission carries out a public education program that includesthe annual California Coastal Cleanup Day; the Adopt-A-Beach Pro-gram; the Boating Clean and Green Campaign; the waves , WETLANDS, and WATERSHEDS school program; and the Whale Tail License PlateProgram.

2 The Commission s Whale Tail License Plate gives drivers away to support California s coast and ocean. Proceeds fund theCommission s public education programs, as well as the Whale TailGrants Program, which supports marine education at the local more information, or to order copies of this activity guide, contactthe California Coastal Commission: 45 Fremont Street, Suite 2000,San Francisco, CA, 94105, (415)904-5200, 2003, 2007 The California Coastal Commission. Student pages maybe reproduced without , Wetlands, and WATERSHEDS is printed on 100% post-consumerrecycled paper with soy based and As and As and As and As and 1 HoHoHoHoHow tw tw tw tw to Use this Booko Use this Booko Use this Booko Use this Booko Use this 3 Some LikSome LikSome LikSome LikSome Like it We it We it We it We it Weeeeet (Grade 3)t (Grade 3)t (Grade 3)t (Grade 3)t (Grade 3).

3 Wetlands at Work .. Marsh Munchers .. The Perfect Beak .. 21 MoMoMoMoMoving Mountains, Shifving Mountains, Shifving Mountains, Shifving Mountains, Shifving Mountains, Shifting Sands (Grade 4)ting Sands (Grade 4)ting Sands (Grade 4)ting Sands (Grade 4)ting Sands (Grade 4).. Moving Mountains to the Sea .. No Ordinary Sandy Beach .. Beach in a Pan .. 40 WWWWW atatatatatererererer, W, W, W, W, Watatatatater Ever Ever Ever Ever Everererererywhere (Grade 5)ywhere (Grade 5)ywhere (Grade 5)ywhere (Grade 5)ywhere (Grade 5).. A Drop in the Bucket .. Alice in Waterland .. Branching Out .. 56 PPPPP ooooowwwwwerererererful Fful Fful Fful Fful Forororororces Shape Our Coast (Grade 6)ces Shape Our Coast (Grade 6)ces Shape Our Coast (Grade 6)ces Shape Our Coast (Grade 6)ces Shape Our Coast (Grade 6).. Beaches: Here Today, Gone Tomorrow?

4 Shifting Sands .. Rollin Down the Sand Highway .. 74 AlerAlerAlerAlerAlert! Species in Danger (Grade 7)t! Species in Danger (Grade 7)t! Species in Danger (Grade 7)t! Species in Danger (Grade 7)t! Species in Danger (Grade 7).. What s So Special About Native Species? .. Adapted for Survival? .. Survivor: California .. 97 That Sinking FThat Sinking FThat Sinking FThat Sinking FThat Sinking Feeling (Grade 8)eeling (Grade 8)eeling (Grade 8)eeling (Grade 8)eeling (Grade 8).. Keep Your Head Above Water .. You Are What You Eat: Plastics and Marine Life .. The Edge of the Wedge .. 117 Community ACommunity ACommunity ACommunity ACommunity Action Action Action Action Action Activities (all grades)ctivities (all grades)ctivities (all grades)ctivities (all grades)ctivities (all grades).. 121CA1 Marine Debris: It s Everywhere!.

5 123CA2 Searching Out Nonpoint Sources of Pollution .. 126CA3 Clean Shorelines, Clean Oceans: Shoreline Cleanup .. 131CA4 Preventing Pollution at the Source .. 141 Environmental Organizations and Programs .. 142 Wetlands of California .. 146 Overfishing: There s a Limit to Fish in the Sea .. 148 Make Your Views Known .. 149 ContentsiiiCalifornia Coastal CommissionJohn DixonLesley EwingKristina FinstadAnnie Kohut FrankelMiriam GordonSusan M. HanschMark JohnssonVivian MatukLaurinda OwensChristiane ParryEben SchwartzJanna ShackeroffTeachersBrita Bautin, Matthew Turner Elementary SchoolBrenda B. Cetrulo, Science Explorers AcademyTrish Hildinger, Green Acres Elementary SchoolKevin Keedy, Seymour Marine Discovery Center, Long Marine Laboratory, University of California, Santa CruzRay Millette, Palisades Charter High SchoolLiz Vallance, Natural Bridges Elementary SchoolAcknowledgementsThank you to the Monterey Bay Sanctuary Foundation for serving as a fiscal agent for this thanks to the following organizations that granted permission for use of theiractivities for adaptation in waves , Wetlands, and WATERSHEDS : Algalita Marine ResearchFoundation; California Aquatic Science Education Consortium (CASEC); Consor-tium for Oceanographic Activities for Students and Teachers (COAST); Environmen-tal Concern Inc.

6 ; FOR SEA Institute of Marine Science; Lawrence Hall of Science,Marine Activities, Resources & Education (MARE); Massachusetts Executive Office ofEnvironmental Affairs, Massachusetts Bays Program; Monterey Bay Aquarium Founda-tion; National Aquarium in Baltimore; Project WET International Foundation; ProjectWILD/Council for Environmental Education; Project WILD Aquatic; Save The Bay; Univer-sity of Massachusetts Extension; The McGraw-Hill Companies; The Maury Project/Ameri-can Meterological Society; The Ocean Education ProfessionalsRita Bell, Monterey Bay AquariumValerie Chase, National Aquarium at BaltimoreAmy Findlay, South Coast watershed Resource CenterShirely Watt Ireton, Science Education ConsultantLiz Love, Monterey Bay National Marine SanctuaryNicki Norman, Community Resources for ScienceLyndell N. Whitley, UC Sea GrantScientists and Technical AdvisorsMark Carr, University of California, Santa CruzPeter Fuller, San Francisco Bay Bar AssociationGary Griggs, University of California, Santa CruzIsabelle Kay, University of California, San DiegoDan Reed, University of California, Santa BarbaraSeba Sheavly, The Ocean ConservancyKerstin Wasson, Elkhorn Slough National Marine EstuaryPhotograph CreditsCalifornia Coastal Commission (pages 121, 122)Gary Griggs (pages 27, 29, 67, 69, 71, 77)Mark Johnsson (pages 61, 63)Monterey Bay National Marine Sanctuary (page 128)Linda Morrow (heron on page 5)William Reagan (page 126)Lynda Roeller ( wetland on page 5)John Wall (page 6)AdvisorsivForewordhe citizens of California established the California CoastalCommission through a voter initiative in 1972.

7 They recognizedthat the coast is a great treasure and should be preserved for usall. This belief remains a core value in our state and the Commissioncontinues to work to maintain accessible, healthy beaches, and clean,productive ocean the public s knowledge and understanding of coastal andmarine resources is an important aspect of this work. The more thatpeople know about the coast and ocean, the better able they are to carefor these ecosystems. When we introduce our young people to theocean and its beaches, we shape tomorrow s coastal ocean provides us with food, helps create our weather and climate,shapes our land, and serves to connect us to distant nations andpeoples. It is a place of refuge, contemplation, and inspiration. For allthese reasons and more, it is important for California s children tounderstand and respect this powerful force.

8 This science activity guidefurthers that we learn the value of the ocean, it becomes clear that its health isdependent upon the health of the land that borders it. California swatersheds, rivers, and wetlands all affect the coastal environment withits many plant and animal species, and in turn affect the ocean inland communities have a responsibility for and a stake in thehealth of the ocean. It is my hope that all citizens of our state will learnto understand and appreciate this fascinating resource and join inefforts to protect, preserve, and restore California s coast and ocean formany generations to ReillyChair, California Coastal Commission, 2003 Tvvi1 Chapter 1 IntroductionIntroductionelcome to a book that may give you a new perspective on ourstate. From the snow-capped peaks of the Sierra Nevada, toour warm, sandy southern beaches and our rugged, wind-swept north coast, our stunningly beautiful state supports a bounty oflife and a diversity of habitats.

9 This diversity presents an outstandingopportunity to witness science in action, regardless of where you all live in a watershed , and almost all WATERSHEDS ultimatelyempty into coastal waters. waves , Wetlands, and WATERSHEDS willhelp students understand the natural systems that connect allCalifornians to our coast, whether they live on the San JoaquinRiver, on the shores of Lake Tahoe, or in the middle ofLos s natural resources have provided a robust livelihoodfor its human inhabitants for hundreds of years. We continue to relyupon those resources for food, housing, clothing, and a family heirloom passed from mother to daughter, California snatural heritage can be cherished and polished from generation togeneration. However, it is human nature to take care only of what weunderstand to be valuable. These activities use an inquiry-based learn-ing approach to develop this understanding.

10 Once students comprehendhow natural systems work, and their role in the continued function orultimate collapse of these systems, they have taken their first step toprotecting and conserving California s valuable FocusThese activities were adapted from exemplary time-tested sciencecurricula developed by outstanding environmental and scientific organi-zations. The hands-on activities were evaluated and selected based onthree criteria: they concentrate on an areaof critical concern to the CaliforniaCoastal Commission ( WETLANDS, coastal processes, rare and endan-gered species, nonpoint sourcepollution, and marine debris),they address multi-disciplinarystandards (science content,language arts, mathematics, andhistory-social science) for Califor-nia students in grades 3-8, and theyare designed to be accessible to allstudents as no expensive materials arenecessary and only one requires a fieldtrip (grade 6).