| Theme: | Water Protection |
| Location: | Behind Dining Hall (Under Shelter) |
| Map #: | 13 |
| Download the PDF | |
Purpose
Students will be introduced to the components that are necessary for riparian zone function, with a strong focus on plants. Students will come to understand how important a healthy, plant-filled riparian zone is to all watersheds. They will see there are many plant and animal interactions amid the Ribbon of Life. Students will also be introduced to the thought process behind stewardship and shoreline restoration so they can become great waterfront stewards themselves.
Key Messages
- A vegetated riparian zone, rich in plant diversity, protects water quality, provides habitat, improves watershed health, and increases biodiversity overall. Littoral zones are vital as well
- Healthy riparian plant communities filter and buffer shoreline runoff, pollution, and reduce erosion along the water's edge.
- Riparian and littoral zone flora provides food and habitat to wildlife.
- Riparian zone plants need to be protected by humans, yet they are often damaged by lack of understanding
- Waterfront Stewards understand waterfront creatures. They protect the riparian and littoral zones and set a great stewardship example, by leaving waterfront plants and habitat unharmed
Ontario Curriculum Connections
Science and Technology- Understanding Life Systems, Grade 4 (Habitats and Communities)
- analyze the positive and negative impacts of human interactions with natural habitats and communities, taking different perspectives into account, and evaluate ways of minimizing the negative impacts
- identify factors that affect the ability of plants and animals to survive in a specific habitat
- demonstrate and understanding of habitats as areas that provide plants and animals with the necessities of life
- use scientific inquiry/research skils to investigate ways in which plants and animals in a community depend on features of their habitat to meet important needs
- Understanding Earth and Space Systems, Grade 5 (Conservation of Energy and Resources)
- analyze the long-term impacts on society and the environment of human uses of energy and natural resources, and suggest ways to reduce these impacts
- Understanding Life Systems, Grade 6 (Biodiversity)
- describe ways in which biodiversity within and among communities is important for maintaining the resilience of these communities
- describe interrelationships within species, between species and between species and their environment, and explain how these interrelationships sustain biodiversity
- demonstrate an understanding of biodiversity as the variety of life on earth, including variety within each species of plant and animal, among species of plants and animals in communities, and among communities and the physical landscapes that support them
- describe ways in which biodiversity within species is important for maintaining the resilience of those spices describe ways in which biodiversity within and among communities is important for maintaining the resilience of these communities
- identify and describe the distinguishing characteristics of different groups of plants and animals and use these characteristics to further classify various kinds of plants and animals
- People and Environments, Grade 5 (The Role of Government and Responsible Citizenship)
- describe some different ways in which citizens can take action to address social and environmental issues
