‘Salt Gardens’: Exploring the wonders of wetlands with Alex, the crab
In this blog post, A. Rita Carrasco from the University of Algarve, gives a brief taste of educational resources on coastal ecogeomorphology, produced for primary school students and supported by a BSG Outreach Grant.
Hello, nature enthusiasts!
Today, we are thrilled to share our incredible journey through wetlands in the company of Alex, the fearless young crab who guided us through a unique experience. You will be admire the beauty of these ecosystems but also learn a lot about the wildlife that inhabits them.
Meeting Alex
As we ventured through the low marsh, we encountered Alex, a curious and lively crab who became our unlikely guide. He led you to discover the hidden charms of the mud and surprised us with his excavation skills.
Building marshes and creating tides
Alex and his friends (Sam the seahorse, Cris the flamingo, and Manu the lost turtle) showed you how to build marshes and even create tides, highlighting the delicate interconnection of these ecosystems. This is a true adventure story!
Identifying iconic plants
With the help of Alex and his friends, we also delved into identifying the iconic plants of the wetlands. We discovered how these plants play crucial roles in supporting wildlife and maintaining ecological balance.
Understanding the impacts of climate change
The journey was not complete without addressing the impact of climate change. Alex shared with us compelling stories of how climate changes directly affect his home in the low marsh, emphasizing the importance of our environmental responsibility.
The ‘Salt Gardens’ kit
The adventures of Alex take place in the ‘Salt Gardens’ kit. This is composed of a box containing bricks and miniatures to build the salt marsh environments, on three steps at different heights. The bricks and miniatures embody the natural elements that compose the tidal wetlands (sediment, animal species, and typical vegetation), and the water is simulated by blue kinetic sand. Progression in the kit is through a set of games and activities related to wetlands’ ecogeomorphology. The characteristics of the miniatures are inspired by the wetland diversity of the Ria Formosa (southern Portugal). The kit includes a hands-on maquette, kit’s instruction manual, informative cards, and climate dice.
The kit was tested together with primary school teachers and the next step will be validation with children. The kit will be implemented in two primary school levels, the first one devoted to children aged 6 to 8 years old, and the second to children aged 9 to 10 years old.
Join us on this exciting journey!
– A. Rita Carrasco, Centre for Marine and Environmental Research (CIMA) – Aquatic Research Network (ARNET), University of Algarve, Campus of Gambelas, Faro, Portugal.