In this activity, students discuss how a variety of everyday objects can serve as metaphors for the important characteristics and functions of estuaries.
By the end of this activity, students should be able to:
- define an estuary
- describe some key features of estuaries and their importance for humans and marine life
- discuss some of the impacts that humans have on estuaries.
Download the Word file (see link below) for:
- introduction/background notes
- instructions on what you need and what to do
- discussion questions
- ideas for extending your students
- student worksheet.
Activity ideas
Bird hotel is an active game that demonstrates the importance of estuaries for bird migration.
Where do I live? looks at why and how marine animals and plants are best suited to particular habitats.
Content curations
The article Estuaries – a context for learning has links to resources that cover biological and ecological functions, cultural and economic aspects, geological and geographical features and human impacts on estuaries.
Biodiversity – estuaries and marine ecosystems is a collection of resources and notes for those teaching in primary school classrooms. You are welcome to copy the collection to your own profile, where you can edit and curate additional resources. Find out more about our easy to use collection tool.
Our Estuaries and wetlands Pinterest Board has more helpful resources.
Useful link
Visit the estuaries page on the Te Ara Encyclopedia of New Zealand for more information.
