Can a bird, fish, mammal, amphibian, and reptile live together in just one place? Definitely! But they’d have to live in a swamp.
A swamp or wetland is a unique environment with the combined characteristics of land and water. The US has over 220 million acres of wetlands, but for centuries much of this has been damaged or destroyed.
Wetlands are land areas that are always or almost always covered in water or are located near a body of water. The water in wetlands can be fresh, brackish, or salty. Swamps, marshes, river deltas, and low-lying areas that get flooded easily are all examples of wetlands.
What you’ll love about this printable:
- Teaches kids about the importance of wetlands
- Promotes the importance of ecology and biodiversity
- Piques kids’ interest in the different plants and animals seen on wetlands
- Keeps kids busy because it doubles as a color-by-number activity
What kids need to learn about wetlands:
- They protect us from storms and floods. When there are heavy rains, wetlands act like sponges that absorb excess water and help prevent flooding. During storms, wetlands in coastal areas protect against storm surges and keep sand and coral from being washed away.
- They act as natural water filters and provide support for rice farming. The plants that live in wetlands catch wastes and harmful chemicals and help clean and purify the water.
- Wetlands are also home to many kinds of plants and animals. In the wetlands, prey animals hide from their predators, birds build their nests, and fish and other aquatic animals lay eggs or give birth to their young.
- There are also a lot of fun leisure activities that people can do in wetlands, like fishing, hunting, and bird watching.
Why kids need to learn about wetlands:
It’s important for kids to realize that wetlands are important and join in on the efforts to preserve them. If we do not protect the wetlands, we will suffer a great loss of biodiversity. We will also lose an important source of food and water. Hopefully, this printable gives kids a nudge toward the right direction.
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