Welcome to the Estuary!
Introduction—Welcome to the Estuary!
Summary: Estuaries are unique and often fragile coastal ecosystems that connect aquatic and marine ecosystems. This topic guide provides definitions and images that orient students and promote a sense of place and understanding.
Concepts to teach: Estuarine ecosystems and habitats, tidal cycles, productivity, ecosystem balance
Goals: Students understand components of an estuarine ecosystem, basic associated vocabulary, and the concept that watersheds connect to the ocean through estuaries.
Standards:
4.2L.1, 5.2L.1, 4.2E1
Specific Objectives:
- Students will be able to identify and describe, in simple terms, what an estuary is and what basic life zones make up an estuary
- Students will be able to describe at least two physical factors that influence life forms in the estuary.
- Students will be able to locate the major life zones and sources of estuary inputs on a map.
Activity Links and Resources:
- The TIDES “Welcome to the Estuary” lessons were developed by the South Slough National Estuarine Research Reserve.
- Summary of Welcome to the Estuary
- Comprehensive PowerPoint presentation with many visual images: Welcome to the Estuary
- Narrative “A View from the Cabin“ by Tom Gaskill of SSNERR gives a written description of what it’s like to live on the estuary.
- Oregon Coast Quests
- HMSC Nature Trail Quest—This self-guided place-based activity in Newport leads explorers on an interpretive walk of the beautiful HMSC Estuary Nature Trail.
- Make a Quest or other interpretive guide that highlights important parts of an estuarine habitat.
Assessment:
- Assessments and extensions included in the OCEP Welcome to the Estuary summary above.
