Educators TOOLBOX
Art & Ecology


Art & Ecology:

Curriculum Integration



Pickerington Elementary School

Issues: Community & Global

Wetlands are areas where water is the primary factor controlling theenvironment and the associated plant and animal life. Historically, wetlandswere perceived as useless swamps and were drained, filled, channeled, andpolluted. Over half of the 200 million acres of wetlands in the continentalUnited States were destroyed. The National Wetlands Policy Forum's goalsfor protecting and managing the nation's wetlands include: (1) to achieveno overall net loss of the nation's remaining wetlands; and (2) to increasethe quality and quantity of the nation's wetlands resource base. OurPickeringtonElementary project is related to many existing programs, including Audubon'sAmerica, Ducks Unlimited, Waterfowl U.S.A, Nature Conservancy, the OhioDepartment of Natural Resources, and the Fairfield Soil and Water ConservationDistricts.



Students & Microscope at Pickerington Ponds

At Pickerington Elementary, the target of our resolve is to nurture alegacy of commitment to the environment through our children. Our objectivethroughout our project is to observe native plant and aquatic habitats,analyze and interpret data, and interface with other research projects involvedin environmental issues that are facing other communities. The fast paceof local development as our community continues to grow is threatening toeradicate the wonders that exist and flourish there. It is critically importantto create public awareness, avoiding damage and disruption to the fragilelandscape.

Currently, flooding in southern Ohio and across the country has affectedcountless individuals and communities. With the destruction of wetlands,Ron Hirschi says that "we've taken away the sponge." There isno place else for run-off water to go. The tenuous balance must be achievedthrough education. By observing the characteristics of wetlands, we maybe able to provide strategies to remedy such tragic consequences in thefuture.





More About the Pickerington Project

 Student Stories

 How To Hear the Grass Sing

 Michael

Wandering ThroughWetlands

Marc

Inspired Reflection

Danielle

Issues:Community andGlobal

Danny

Partnerships








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