Water For Life Expo
Rachel had a great day at the Waikato Enviroschools Water for Life Expo teaching students from many local schools all about our precious wetlands. They learnt about why they are important, and why they need to be protected and restored.
The tamariki got to do experiments to see how wetlands filter water, and also protect us from floods and erosion. They also learnt about some of our unique wetland species.
We now have a kit of Wetland Resources and experiments that our coordinators can take into schools or ECE Centres to teach them about these important habitats, 90% of which have been destroyed. We also have online resources that teachers can use.
Our hands-on experiments allow students to understand the important role that wetlands play in filtering water before it enters streams/lakes, and in slowing down storm water to prevent flooding and erosion. They spray ‘rain’ onto the plasticine hills and watch the ‘contaminants’ either be filtered out by the sponge ‘wetland’ or wash into the river without a wetland. It is a very visual way for students to understand how wetlands work.
Our other experiment has ‘banks’ made from soil and soil with plants. Students can see how when they spray' ‘rain’ on the banks, the one with just soil quickly soaks up water and then slips into the ‘river’. The one with plants has leaves protecting the soil from the rain, then roots holding the soil together. The importance of plants to prevent erosion is really obvious to them.
