Lesson Plan

Wetlands Adena Dehbashian Hazar Jaribi

Date: November 4Topic: What is a wetland?

Duration of Lesson: 55 minutes

Learners’ ages: Young adults (18-25)

Target language proficiency: Intermediate

Native language: Armenian

Educational backgrounds: Armenian

Reasons for teaching this course: 1-raising awareness about the importance of wetlands

in Armenia 2-enhance the critical thinking of learners in second language

Learning Objectives:

By the end of the class, students will be able to (SWBAT):

LO1 Students will be able to recall their background knowledge in the discussion

LO2 Students will be able to put new vocabulary into use

LO3 Students will be able to argue about the wetlands of Armenia

LO4 Students will be able to debate about wetlands issues in Armenia

Materials:1. Vocabulary cards2. Text handouts3. Projector to watch a video4. Discussion Questions

Procedures:

WARM UP: Vocabulary Game (8 minutes)

1. Greet the class and check the attendance.

2. Introduce the topic “wetlands”

3. Divide the class into the groups of two and ask students to match the new words

regarding wetlands with definition that the second group has.

4. Give the first group the cards having different words about wetlands. (see appendix

1)

Lesson Plan

5. Then, give the second group the definition of the words and ask the class to find the

corresponding definition for each word.(see appendix 1)

6. Give them 4 minutes

7. At the end of the activity, read the correct answers for students to check.

PHASE I – PRESENTATION

Pre-Reading activity: Video watching (7 minutes)

1. Tell students that they are going to watch a video about wetland and its importance.2. Ask students to listen carefully and take notes.3. Play the video https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=tUQTgh8MwMI4. After watching, ask students the following questions:

Why do we call these areas wetlands? Why are wetlands so important for humans?

Reading Activity (17 minutes)1. Distribute the text about wetland. (see appendix 2)2. Ask students to skim the text and underline the unfamiliar words. 3. Ask students to say unfamiliar words.4. Write the unfamiliar words on the blackboard, give the definition or synonym. (see

appendix 3)5. Ask students to read the text.

PHASE II –PRACTICE/COLLABORATION

Discussion and speaking (15 minutes) 1. After finishing the reading, ask students to make four group of three.2. Give each group the discussion questions. (see appendix 4)3. Ask students to discuss the question into the group.4. Give them 2-3 minutes5. Ask them to share their ideas with their peers.6. Tell students to join their groups again.7. Ask them to come up with a wetland protection solution and write them on the

paper. 8. Ask them to use the newly learnt vocabulary.9. Tell students to exchange their ideas with each other.10. Sum up students ideas and tell them that wetlands are so important for Armenia,

though they are endangered and are disappearing; the economics of country and local people’s income mainly depend on them.

Lesson Plan

WRAP-UP/REVIEW/CONNECTIONS

For and against activity ( 8 minutes) 1. Divide the class into two groups.2. Tell the first group that they are against overusing wetlands and their protection is

much more important than economics of country. 3. Tell the second group that they are for overusing the lands to make profit and

money from it, not caring about the damages.4. Give each group 2-3 minutes to think, and ask them to start their discussion.5. Remind students that everyone in the groups should talk6. At the end of the class, tell students for the next time they have presentation. 7. Tell them they have to pick one wetland from Armenia for example (Arax river,

Sevan lake and etc.) and present it next time.8. Tell students that they need to talk about the importance of wetland and possible

issues that it may have.9. Tell students that they can do presentation in pair and they need to talk 3-4

minutes.

Appendix (Handouts, Materials, etc.)1. Appendix 1: Vocabulary Cards2. Appendix 2: Reading Text3. Appendix 3: Unfamiliar Words from the Text4. Appendix 4: Discussion Questions

Appendix 1: Vocabulary Cards

Lesson Plan

WetlandAn area of land whose soil is covered with moisture either permanently or seasonally

CattailA tall plant that has long flat leaves and that grows in wet areas

Wastewater Contaminated water contains waste and poison

Biodiversity The number and variety of species found within a specified geographic region

PurificationThe act of cleaning by getting rid of impurities

Lesson Plan

Appendix 2 : Reading Text

DroughtA period of abnormally dry weather, which causes water shortages and crop damage

SwampAn area of low-lying, uncultivated ground where water collects

Natural resources

Organisms or materials of the natural world that humans value

Lesson Plan

WETLANDS

Wetlands are highly variable and dynamic: they are water bodies but also include land. They

are freshwater, brackish or saline, inland or coastal, seasonal or permanent, natural or man-made.

Wetlands include mangroves, swamps and marshes, rivers, lakes, floodplains and flooded

forests, rice-fields, and even coral reefs. Wetlands are one of the world’s most important

environmental assets, containing a disproportionately high number of plant and animal species

compared to other areas of the world. Throughout history they have been integral to human

survival and development.1

Why are wetlands important?2

Wetlands provide significant economic, social and cultural benefits. They are important for

primary products such as pastures, fish and support tourist activities. Wetlands also help reduce

the impacts from storm damage and flooding, maintain good water quality in rivers, store carbon,

help stabilize climatic conditions and control pests. They are also important sites for biodiversity.

Wetlands support agricultural activities by providing a source of water for irrigation and

livestock and for domestic consumption.

Many coastal and inland wetlands are popular locations for tourism and recreational activities

such as swimming, boating, fishing, camping and bird watching.

Appendix 3: Unfamiliar Words from the Text

1Taken and adapted from: http://www.wetlands.org/Whatarewetlands/tabid/202/Default.aspx2Taken and adapted from: http://www.environment.nsw.gov.au/wetlands/WhyAreWetlandsImportant.htm

Lesson Plan

1- Variable: changeable 2- Dynamic: active 3- Brackish: salty

4-Saline: salty 5-Coastal: near to seashore 6-Swamp: marsh

7- Floodplain: an area of low-lying ground adjacent to a river

8-Disproportionately: out of proportion, as in size, shape, or amount.

9-Integral: Essential or necessary for completeness

10-Pasture: land covered with grass and other low plants suitable for grazing animals

11-Stabilize: to make something stable 

Picture Dictionary:

1-Coral reef: a marine ridge or reef consisting of coral and other organic material consolidated

into limestone

2-Mangrove: any of various tropical or subtropical evergreen salt-tolerant trees or shrubs

Lesson Plan

Appendix 4: Discussion Questions (make 4 copies)

Armenia has different types of wetlands, which are extremely important for the country.

However, wetlands are among the most threatened habitats in the country.

1. In your opinion why are the wetlands so important for Armenia and Armenias?

2. What are the products of wetlands in Armenia?

3. What does threaten our wetlands? (share your opinion)