Year 9 HASS students have been examining how wetlands function and why they are recognised as critical ecosystems for both the environment and human communities. Students engaged in a practical investigation where they constructed model wetlands using everyday materials. Plastic bottles were used to represent the wetland environment, sponges acted as soil and root systems to demonstrate how wetlands absorb and filter water, paper layers simulated sediment and vegetation that trap particles, and clean and dirty water illustrated the process of inflows and outflows.

The model allowed students to observe key ecological processes; how wetlands naturally filter and purify water by removing sediments and pollutants, how they mitigate flooding by absorbing and storing excess water, and how they sustain biodiversity by providing critical habitats for plants and animals.

Students produced explanatory videos in which they described how their models functioned and reflected on the wider role of wetlands in environmental conservation. The presentations encouraged students to use subject-specific language, connect their practical observations to real-world ecological systems, and consider the threats wetlands face as well as strategies for their protection.

Kardinia Caputo, Jacinta Coombe and Wendy Matulic
Year 9 HASS Teachers