Creating teaching resources for junior high school student's through wetland investigations. Enhancing the ecological and societal value of wetland forests.

Abstract

Having worked as a biology teacher at the junior high school level, I acknowledged a need for hands-on learning materials that support the study of ecology and biodiversity through fieldwork. I explored how such materials could be designed for studying forests in Sweden. Using a standardized method for measuring ecological parameters in wetland forests (such as lower vegetation species, water coverage and lying deadwood logs using FAS), I collected data from three sites along Sweden’s west coast, Rya Skog (Gothenburg), Näverkärr and Havstensfjorden (near Lysekil). The aim was to create a toolkit aligned with the Swedish biology curriculum for years 7-9 (Lgr22), while highlighting interdisciplinary connections between subjects such as mathematics and geography. I also compared some of my collected data with results from studies performed in Näverkärr and Havstensfjorden during spring 2024. The results suggest wide possibilities to develop pedagogically relevant teaching materials aligned with the curriculum. The methodology resulted in a structured toolkit for investigating wetland forests, or other types of forests, opening possibilities for interdisciplinary collaboration. The water coverage on both sites was absent/barely visible during my visit (week 39-40), a difference with earlier studies where a bigger extent was documented. Biodiversity was higher in Näverkärr during this autumn investigation than during spring of 2024, whereas in Havstensfjorden it was almost aligned with the results of the earlier studies. A certain level of error should be acknowledged, though the timeframe and method for identification of plant species could be improved to get more representative results. The deadwood sampling method (FAS) opens possibilities to future research on specific insects, fungi, and the carbon cycle. This study can also be continued by education institutions, where its effectiveness is tested and evaluated. To increase the knowledge of ecological/societal values and biodiversity of these habitats for the students may help the sustenance of these valuable environments into the future.