Session 2
(45 minutes) 

Conduct this session in the classroom.

1. Direct each group to turn their open box on its side, and provide students with suggestions for constructing the diorama.
    
   • Art paper and other materials may be used to line the box and represent the wetland environment.
      
   • Plastic wrap may be taped inside the box to represent the water on the surface of the wetland.
      
   • Drawings of plants and animals should be attached throughout the scene.
    
2. Next, direct students to make a key to the scene on a strip of construction paper. The key will provide information about the water, plants, and animals in the wetland and should be attached to the top of the diorama. Tell students to include in the key:
    
   • wetland type
      
   • brief description, including the kind of water and whether it is present in the wetland all the time or only part of the time
      
   • list of numbers and letters together with the names of the plants and animals to which they correspond.
    
3. When all the groups have finished, allow time for students to view all the dioramas. Discuss the similarities and differences among the various types of wetlands. Ask what might cause a wetland to have water only some of the time. In tidal wetlands, water may come and go daily. Others may be affected by weather and contain water only when rain is plentiful. Ask how drought or especially hot or windy weather might affect water levels. This will provide an opportunity to talk about evaporation.
    
4. Finally, explain some of the benefits of wetlands as detailed in the lesson Background. Also, briefly discuss laws protecting wetlands and what might happen if the laws did not exist or were not obeyed.

Next: Session 3