Natural Sciences and Technology Grade 6 Term 2: Matter and Materials Mixtures and Water resources

Topic 5 Mixtures and Water resources What are Wetlands? Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 5

Wetlands Nature has its own way of purifying water – this happens through wetlands Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 5

Wetlands are the link between land and water Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 5

What are wetlands? An area is a wetland if it has the following: waterlogged soil water-loving plants and a high water table (lots of water in the area) Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 5

Examples of wetlands marshes floodplains swamps lakes and pans springs estuaries river banks Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 5

Wetlands Temporary wetlands are there for one to four months of the year. Seasonal wetlands appear in some places only when it rains. Permanent wetlands are there all the time. Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 5

Wetlands are like huge sponges Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 5

Purpose of wetlands They soak up water and store it. They slow down floods. They filter water through plants and soil and help purify it. Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 5

Purpose of wetlands Wetlands also provide a natural habitat for many plants and animals Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 5

Taking care of our wetlands Do not throw insoluble rubbish into wetlands (plastic bottles and oil). Do not throw soluble pollutants into wetlands (soaps and chemicals). Do not plant trees that use all the water in the wetlands to grow. Do not build houses and factories in wetlands. Do spend time visiting your nearest wetland. Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 5

Where are our wetlands? Province Wetland Gauteng Blesbokspruit Limpopo Nylsvley Mpumalanga Verloren Vallei Western Cape Rondevlei Nature Reserve KwaZulu Natal St Lucia Gr 6 Natural Sciences and Technology – Term 2, Topic 5

Use this slide to show different parts of South Africa where our wetlands are situated.