Get Involved
Get Involved

Virtual Exploration of Georgia's Coastal Wetlands

“Virtual Exploration of Georgia’s Coastal Wetlands” is a curriculum created by UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant and designed to connect high school students to the coast from right inside their classrooms. 

The curriculum will empower students to become better stewards of coastal ecosystems and better understand the benefits of and threats to Georgia’s watershed resources. 

ABOUT VIRTUAL REALITY FIELD TRIP GETTING STARTED LESSON: SALT MARSH ECOLOGY LESSON: UNDERSTANDING DATA COLLECTION AND COASTAL MONITORING LESSON: VIRTUAL WETLAND EXPLORATION LESSON: SPARTINA BEACH ACTIVITY SUPPLEMENTAL RESOURCES, STANDARDS, AND ACKNOWLEDGMENTS

About the Curriculum

The curriculum features a Virtual Reality (VR) field trip to wetland sites along the Georgia coast. This field trip is accompanied by lessons related to salt marsh ecology, human impacts on the environment, natural hazards and resiliency. Each lesson can be delivered independently of one another or together as a series.

There are two options for taking the virtual wetland field trip:

Reserve Meta Quest Headsets

Teachers in coastal Georgia counties can reserve Meta Quest headsets for their classroom. Quantity is limited and will be distributed on a “first come, first served” basis. 
Fill out Form

Web-Based Field Trip Access

Accessible to everyone, the web-based version of the field trip is available for exploration.
Jump In

For this Virtual Reality (VR) field trip, no headsets are needed. Visit wetland sites along the Georgia coast and act like a scientist identifying organisms in the field.

Jump In

Getting Started and Pre-Curriculum Video

To get familiar with each lesson, it is recommended to review the curriculum at a glance guide here.   Students should also watch this 3-minute video before starting any of the lessons. Teachers can our introductory guide to prepare students to learn more about Georgia’s coastal wetlands.

Curriculum at a Glance Guide

Video Overviewing Lessons

Teacher Introductory Guide

“We [my classroom] have been able to dive into our "back-yard" and make the connection using cutting edge technology, an immediate win for both the students and teachers involved… and I look forward to harnessing this curriculum for years to come!”

Alexia Branch, Georgia Educator

Lessons

These lessons are designed to introduce students to Georgia’s coastal salt marsh ecosystem. Each PowerPoint has the option for teachers to use pre-recorded narration or lead lessons without narration. Each lesson is designed to stand alone but can be combined with other lessons for a more holistic understanding of Georgia’s coast.

Salt Marsh Ecology

This lesson introduces students to the biology and ecology of the salt marsh. Students will learn to identify some of the plants and animals found in the salt marsh, what a keystone species is, and how wetlands support biodiversity.
 
Salt Marsh Ecology Narrated PowerPoint
 
Sketch a Wetland Model
 
Sketch a Wetland Model Discussion Questions (Student Version)
 
Sketch a Wetland Model Discussion Questions (Teacher Version)
 
Salt Marsh Ecology Worksheet (Student Version)
 
Salt Marsh Ecology Worksheet (Teacher Version)
 

Understanding Data Collection and Coastal Monitoring

This lesson introduces students to the concepts of resilience, ecosystem services and what it means to be a resilient coastal community. This lesson prepares students to have a stronger understanding of scientific monitoring and how data can be used to measure long-term coastal change.
 
Understanding Data Collection and Coastal Monitoring PowerPoint
 
Virtual Data Collection Activity
 
Virtual Site Activity Sheet (Student Version)
 
Virtual Site Activity Sheet (Teacher Version)
 
Wrap Up Activity Open Ended Questions (Student Version)
 
Wrap Up Activity Open Ended Questions (Teacher Version)
 
[Optional] End of Activity Report (Student Version)

Virtual Wetland Exploration

Using either the Meta Quest headsets or web-based tour, students can visit several coastal wetland sites along the Georgia coast and evaluate the quality of each site using the Wetland Quality Site Ranking Worksheet. Teachers can watch the pre-lesson video prior to sharing this lesson and refer to the instructions for students at the top of the worksheet.
 
Virtual Wetland Field Trip 
 
Wetland Quality Site Ranking Worksheet
 
Salt Marsh Identification Guide (PDF)
 
Virtual Guide to the Salt Marshes and Tidal Creeks of the Southeastern United States
 
Pre-Lesson Video Prior for Teachers

Spartina Beach Activity

Students will work in groups, acting as different members of a model coastal community, to apply solutions aimed to enhance the community’s resilience to natural hazards.
All of the resources to carry out this lesson are available below. Alternatively, teachers can contact either Nina Sassano (nina.sassano@uga.edu) in the Chatham County area or Katy Smith (klaustin@uga.edu) in the Glynn County area for laminated, color versions of these resources to use in your classroom.

Spartina Beach Activity Overview PowerPoint Presentation
 
Spartina Beach Activity Maps and Worksheet PowerPoint Presentation
 
Teacher Instructions (PDF)
 
Student Instructions (PDF)
 
Printable Material: Student Worksheets (PDF)
 
Printable Material: Money (PDF)

Supplemental Resources, Standards, and Acknowledgments

Supplemental Resources

Education Standards

This curriculum was designed following Next Generation Science Standards for high school grades and has been tested in coastal Georgia schools. The booklet highlights the standards met through this curriculum.

Guide to Education Standards

Acknowledgments

We would like to thank the following organizations and individuals for their contributions to curriculum development:

    • Rocket Club for their generous donation
    • Luke Roberson, former Adopt-A-Wetland Coordinator, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
    • Jill Gambill, Coastal Community Resilience Specialist, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
    • 2021 – 2022 Marine Education Fellows and Education Faculty, UGA Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant
    • UNCW MarineQuest

Meet the Curriculum Authors

Nina Sassano
Educator and Intern Coordinator, University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant

Katy Smith
Water Quality Program Coordinator, University of Georgia Marine Extension and Georgia Sea Grant

Contact Us

Please email communications@secoora.org if you have any questions.