A wetland is an ecosystem with water covering the soil for varying periods of time during the year. They help clean our water by filtering out pollutants, taking in large amounts of water during storms that would otherwise flood the streets, and being home to diverse species that depend on wetlands to survive. We depend on these ecosystems but are unfortunately damaging them as a result of climate change and pollution. In order to better protect them, it is important to understand how each part of the wetlands interact with and rely on the others. This summer, I focused on the relationship between the plant growth and water chemistry at Old Woman’s creek in Huron, Ohio. Today, we are going to examine the relationship between wetland soil, plant growth, and flood prevention.
The student handout will be given to all students working on the design challenge. It gives a brief recap of the story, it helps the students identify what they are attempting to achieve, and it recaps the design process.
This Instructor’s Guide provides the instructor additional information on how to run the design challenge with alternatives for materials and test setups as well as information to help make the design challenge a good educational experience.
The Telling the Story Video conveys the societal impact of the student’s research that is the basis for the design challenge and will set the problem-solving context for students.
The Design Challenge Video leads students through the design process. It indicates materials available, states what the criteria are for success and any constraints. It also gives a second ‘level’ of the design challenge that allows ‘early completers’ to move on to a slightly more difficult challenge.