Welcome to the Wadden Sea
Students will read and discuss the story describing a field trip to the Schleswig-Holstein Wadden Sea National Park. As a class, view the video
STEM Unit 4: Wadden Sea Ecosystems available on YouTube by
The Transatlantic Outreach Program.
Guiding Question: What threats does climate change pose to the Wadden Sea and its unique ecosystem?
Activity: Make a class list of climate change challenges to the Wadden Sea.
Exploration 1. Shorebird Migration
Students will learn about the East Atlantic Flyway and the importance of the Wadden Sea as a refueling station and breeding ground.
Guiding Question: What are some of the threats migratory bird populations face at the Wadden Sea?
Activity 1: East Atlantic Flyway: View the video the
East Atlantic Flyway Explained from the
Wadden Sea Secretariat on YouTube. As a class or in small groups, students will analyze the
Migration Pathway Map and observe what patterns they see.
Activity 2: Ecosystem Interactions: Students will play the role of a migratory shorebird in the
Wader Migration Game and record their energy gains and losses in their Migration Passports.
Exploration 2. Energy Flow in the National Park
Students will learn about the ecosystems of the Wadden Sea by doing three activities.
Guiding Question: What ecosystem resources are available at the national park, and how is energy transferred through various habitats at the Wadden Sea?
Activity 1: Habitats: Using the
Poster “Wadden Sea”, students will identify the habitats that make up the national park ecosystem and identify the biotic and abiotic factors in each habitat.
Activity 2: Roles in the Ecosystem: Students use the “Wadden Sea Species Cards” and a short reading passage that defines the roles of producers, consumers, and decomposers to classify organisms found in the national park. As scientists, students organize the “Wadden Sea Species Cards” to show the flow of energy through the national park ecosystem.
Activity 3: Food Web: Students use the “Wadden Sea Species Cards” and
Poster “Wadden Sea” to construct a food web that shows the interactions of organisms in the national park ecosystem.
Exploration 3. Invasive Species
Students will explore invasive species present in the
Wattenmeer.
Guiding Question: What effects might invasive species be having on the national park’s ecosystem?
Activity: Students will choose one invasive species and trace its journey from its point of origin to the
Wattenmeer.
