August 31: Learning about Urban Wetlands Part 2
Assigned Teachers: Suren, Piyumika, Tameez
Objectives:
Apply contour + wetland knowledge to reimagine a city with urban wetlands for cooling and flood protection.
Planning for a trip to Baddegana Wetland park :D
Intro
Recap Lesson 1: students saw how water moves in landforms and where it collects in low areas.
Frame today: “Now we’ll see how this happens in the city, and think about how wetlands in cities could help with flooding.”
You will need:
Sketch paper, pencils and clipboards
Clay + trays/boards
String (for slicing contours)
Popsicle sticks or plastic knives (carving)
Tracing paper or acetate sheets
Whiteboard markers (blue, green, brown, red, black)
Tape
water + yoghurt cup (to keep clay workable)
Guide
Step 1: Ethnographic Walk (30 min)
take a walk down Nagahaswatte lane down to havelock road. students explore a nearby urban area (street, market, vacant lot, schoolyard). They look for:
Water + flooding clues → blocked drains, places where water would pool, low-lying roads, algae marks on walls.
Pavement vs. soil → where does water soak in, and where does it rush off?
Vegetation + shade → are there trees, patches of grass, tanks, or ditches?
People’s experience → optional short chats with shopkeepers, tuk-tuk drivers, or pedestrians: “Does this area flood during rain?” or “What happens here in the monsoon?”
Sketch 2-3 observations
Step 2: Mapping Observations (20 min)
Back in class:
Place a base map or aerial photo of the area on the table.
Students mark their findings:
🌊 = flood risk
🛑 = blocked drains/pavement problem
🌱 = possible wetland site
Connect back to contours from Lesson 1: “These are the ‘urban low spots’ where water wants to go.”
Step 3: Imagining Wetlands (25 min)
Each group chooses one area on the map.
They quickly sketch: “If we placed a wetland here, what would it do?”
Hold back monsoon water to prevent flooding
Filter dirty runoff
Provide green shade and wildlife space
Optional: Overlay tracing paper on the map and draw their proposed wetland.
If they like they can start building a model, but this can happen in another lesson.