Marsh Guardians Slides
Science Story • Nature Heroes
Explore Together!
Our Earth & the
Super Salt Marsh!
A fun story about warm sunshine, squishy mud, and green grass that helps keep our planet cool and safe.
The Warm Sun
Tall Green Grass
Ocean Water
What is a Salt Marsh?
By the Ocean Coast
Salty Water
Ocean water floods in twice a day like a gentle bath!
Squishy Mud
Squish! Squelch! Thick dark mud tickles your rain boots.
Tall Grass
Cordgrass grows high to hide crabs and baby fish!
Try it: Touch your toes! Pretend your feet are in cool, squishy mud!
Earth Wears a Warm Blanket
The Air Around Us
1. Sunshine Warms Earth
The bright sun shines down on the land, the ocean, and the marshes to give us warm light.
2. The Air Keeps Us Cozy
The air acts like a soft blanket. It keeps Earth warm so we don’t freeze at night!
Body Action: Hug your shoulders tight! Feel how your arms keep you cozy like a warm blanket.
Too Many Blankets!
Climate Change
Cars & Smoke
Cars, planes, and big power plants make smoke. This smoke goes up into the sky.
Adds extra blankets!
Earth Gets Too Hot
Imagine wearing 5 heavy coats in the hot summer! Earth starts to feel sweaty and warm.
Puff! We need to cool down!
Cool Down Action: Fan your face with your hands! “Whew, it’s getting warm!”
Move & Freeze: Be the Marsh Grass!
Stand Up & Move!
1
Stand Tall!
Reach both arms high to the sky!
2
Plant Roots!
Glue your feet to the floor like mud roots!
3
Sway Gently!
Lean left, then right with the ocean breeze.
4
Freeze Strong!
Stay super strong when big waves splash!
Awesome job! You are strong like salt marsh grass!
How Marsh Grass Helps Earth
Our Nature Friend
Breathes In Smoke
The green grass drinks in the extra warm air and carbon. It catches it with its long green blades!
Pushes It Down!
The grass sends that carbon down through its roots, deep into the wet mud under the water.
Take a breath: Breathe in deep through your nose... and slowly blow it out! Good plants help us breathe clean air!
Magic Mud: The Carbon Sponge
Locked Safe & Sound
Garden Dirt
Garden dirt gets dry. Bugs and worms eat dead leaves quickly, and carbon goes right back into the air.
Cannot hold carbon very long.
Salt Marsh Mud!
Marsh mud is super wet and salty with no air bubbles. It locks carbon safe like a heavy treasure chest!
Traps carbon for hundreds of years!
Gesture: Lock your hands together like a treasure chest! Click! Trapped safely in the mud!
The Marsh Protects Our Homes!
Nature's Wall
Without Tall Grass
Big stormy waves crash hard onto roads and houses. Water can flood into town!
× Flooded streets and damage
With Salt Marsh Grass
The thick grass slows down the big waves. By the time water reaches town, it’s just a gentle ripple!
✓ Homes stay dry and safe!
Shield Action: Put your hands up like a shield! Say loud and proud: “Stop, waves!”
Marsh Detective: Thumbs Game!
Show Your Thumb!
1. Planting Baby Grass
Students plant baby green grass seedlings in the mud to help the marsh grow big and strong!
THUMBS UP! (Helps Earth!)
2. Throwing Trash in Water
Leaving plastic bottles and trash in the marsh hurts the little crabs and fish living there.
THUMBS DOWN! (Not good!)
Show me: What thumb do you give for planting green grass?
3 Simple Ways We Can Help!
Every Kid Can Do This!
1. Click Off Lights
Turn off lights when leaving a room to save electricity!
2. Walk & Ride
Walk or ride a bike for short trips instead of driving cars!
3. Care for Plants
Water flowers, protect trees, and keep beaches clean!
Small actions by kind kids make a huge difference!
You Are a Marsh Hero!
Science Champion
Point to your favorite part of today:
The Tall Grass
Cleaning our air!
The Squishy Mud
Locking carbon away!
The Wave Shield
Keeping houses safe!
Give your neighbor or teacher a big High Five! Great job today!
Marsh Helpers Activity Mat
Marsh Helpers Activity Mat
Science Explorer • Part 1: Nature Helpers
Let’s Explore!
Name:
Date:
1
Match the Marsh Friend to Its Job!
Draw a line with your pencil or crayon from each picture to its superpower:
The Warm Sun
Shines in sky
Marsh Grass
Tall green blades
Squishy Mud
Deep & wet soil
Locks carbon inside like a treasure box!
Gives Earth warm light every morning!
Drinks carbon and stops big waves!
2
Circle the Choices That Help Our Earth!
Use your green crayon to circle the 3 good helpers:
Click off room lights
Plant baby cordgrass
Throw plastic in water
Ride a bike to school
Turn the page for the hands-on Sponge Experiment!
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Part 2: Sensory Lab & Hero Badge
Hands-on science with your teacher or partner
Touch & Feel
3
Kitchen Sponge Experiment: Be the Marsh!
Salt marsh mud acts like a giant kitchen sponge. Let’s test how a sponge holds water!
A
Touch Dry Sponge
Feel the empty little air holes.
B
Pour 1 Cup Water
Watch the sponge drink it all up!
C
Gently Squeeze
Feel how much water was locked inside!
Draw a picture of your sponge holding water:
(Draw here: sponge, blue water droplets, or green grass!)
4
Color Your Official Marsh Hero Badge!
Hero
Certified Earth Guardian
“I promise to help protect salt marshes, care for green plants, and keep our planet cool!”
Sign Your Name:
Teacher / Helper Sticker:
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Earth Hero Sorting Cards
Earth Hero Picture Cards
Cut along the dotted lines to make your sorting game!
8 Cut-Out Cards
Card 1
Planting Grass
Putting baby grass in the mud to trap carbon and cool Earth.
Card 2
Turn Off Lights
Clicking lights off when leaving a room to save electricity.
Card 3
Ride a Bicycle
Pedaling a bike makes zero smoke and keeps the air clean!
Card 4
Pick Up Litter
Keeping beaches and marshes clean for crabs and birds.
Card 5
Smoky Car Exhaust
Pumping thick smoke into the sky makes Earth too hot.
Card 6
Wasting Clean Water
Leaving the faucet running when brushing teeth wastes water.
Card 7
Littering Trash
Throwing plastic bottles into water hurts baby fish.
Card 8
Pulling Up Plants
Digging up marsh cordgrass lets storm waves wash mud away.
Adult helper: Assist with scissors as needed. Place cards on Page 2!
Page 1 of 2
Earth Hero Sorting Mat
Sort your cards into the two zones below!
Sorting Challenge
Explorer Name:
Date:
Helps Earth & Marsh!
Place your 4 GREEN cards here:
Card 1 Drop Zone
Card 2 Drop Zone
Card 3 Drop Zone
Card 4 Drop Zone
Needs Our Help!
Place your 4 RED cards here:
Card 5 Drop Zone
Card 6 Drop Zone
Card 7 Drop Zone
Card 8 Drop Zone
Great sorting! Tell your partner 1 good action you want to try today.
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