Teacher`s Guide - America`s Amazon

America’s Amazon
The Mobile-Tensaw Delta
A Teacher’s Guide...
Suggested Curriculum
Areas
Science
Social Studies
Biology
Geography
Geology
History
Environmental Science
Suggested Grade Levels
6th - 12th
Key Concepts
Biodiversity
Habitats
Ecosystems
Watersheds
River Deltas
Human Impacts
Suggested Class Periods
2-3, depending upon
length and objectives
Please see the America’s
Amazon website for
formal lesson plans and
additional resources
(http://americasamazon.net).
Synopsis
America’s Amazon paints a visually stunning
documentary portrait of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta, an
amazing watery world, and one of the continent’s most
diverse biological treasures. With appearances by worldrenowned Harvard Professor and Pulitzer prize-winning
author, Dr. Edward O. Wilson and other Alabamians,
this informative one hour documentary reveals a hidden
world of amazing biodiversity. Through compelling
descriptions of this rich river system’s origins, history,
and connections to plants, animals and man, we gain a
deeper understanding of this unique biological ecosystem
shared by all Alabamians and what is at stake as the
population around the Delta grows. Ultimately, the film
suggests we must act now to protect this great wilderness
for future generations, before it is lost forever.
The full sweep of the film tells a multi-faceted story of Alabama
from the Ice Age creations of our shared habitats to the more
recent history of man’s connection to this rich wilderness
environment, so vital to the health of our food, water and
commerce. The film traces the path, history and importance of the
abundant creeks and rivers running from high in the mountains
of the northeastern portion of the state all the way to the Gulf
of Mexico. Within this story are numerous images of the many
species of plants and animals that make up this hidden world, one
of the most biodiverse areas on the planet, that reveal the impacts
of the collision of an ancient world with the modern world,
particularly the extinction of species. Throughout, the film shows
examples of the interconnectedness of our lives and this amazing
river delta ecosystem.
Key Points
1. The state of Alabama is a very wet state, having more than 77,000 miles of rivers and streams.
Much of this water flows through the Mobile Tensaw Delta (hereafter abbreviated as the MTD) to
Mobile Bay and then the Gulf of Mexico. The seasonal changes in water flow (high in spring, low in
late summer) and the associated flooding control the seasonal patterns seen in many delta habitats.
2. The MTD has a high biodiversity. Animal groups including fishes, turtles, salamanders, crawfish,
and mussels and plants including oaks, grasses, pine forests and pitcher plants reach high diversity
in the MTD. Scientists think this high biodiversity has resulted from a relatively stable geography
(in geologic time), a lack of glaciation. and the large number of different types of habitats.
3. The Mississippian culture of Native Americans inhabited the MTD thousands of years ago
and were responsible for the Mounds at Bottle Creek. It played an important role in Spanish and
French exploration and settlement of Alabama and is now an important area of fishing, hunting,
agriculture, the timber industry and recreation for a growing human population.
4. Human activities have impacted the MTD in many ways such as changing flow
patterns through construction of the Causeway, damming of upstream rivers,
introduction of invasive species, clearcutting of forests, contamination by pollutants
such as mercury and DDT and the increasing sediment loads through runoff and
resulting decrease in water quality.
While Viewing
ian.umces.edu/imagelibrary/
Before Viewing
1. Have your students look at a map of the
state of Alabama and the Mobile-Tensaw
Delta. Ask students to a) define a watershed,
b) identify the Mobile Bay watershed
(http://www.mobilebaynep.com/mobile_bay_watershed/
watershed_map/) and
c) identify the major river
systems (watersheds) of the state
(http://www.alabamawaterwatch.org/resources/
riversofalabama/riversofalabama.html).
2. Have your students a) define biodiversity,
b) identify global hotspots of biodiversity
(http://www.eoearth.org/viewarticle/150569/) and
c) locate US biodiversity hotspots (http://www.
natureserve.org/biodiversity-science).
1. Note that the approximately hour-long
film has been divided into 3 segments to
make it easier to use in a classroom setting.
The three individual segments focus on
watersheds, biodiversity and human impacts,
respectively. Students could use these 3
topics as the starting points for concept maps
or headings for notes taken during the film.
2. Having a Google Earth (or similar) aerial
image of the Mobile-Tensaw Delta visible
during viewing helps students place the
diversity and human impacts in a geographic
context and realize the incredible size of the
Delta.
3. Have students keep a running list of the
types of habitats found in the Delta that are
mentioned in the film. This will help them
understand reasons for the amazing diversity
of the region.
After Viewing
ian.umces.edu/imagelibrary/
MIDDLE SCHOOL STUDENTS
1. Have your students develop concept maps for the film. Using the terms, habitats and main ideas they
took notes on, have them brainstorm how these topics are connected or interdependent. Have them present
evidence to support their ideas.
2. Ask your students to research their watershed, its relationship to the Mobile Bay watershed and the
Mobile-Tensaw Delta. (Please see Resources for helpful websites.)
3. Ask your students to identify their favorite animal or plant seen in the film. What habitat was it found
in? What resources does this animal or plant need during its life - for growing or reproducing? How would
they feel if this animal went extinct?
4. Have your students reflect on their personal impact on the Delta. Do they affect water
quality near their home during their day-to-day life? How? What impact does this
have on the Delta’s water quality? Could they reduce these impacts? How? How much
work or effort would this require? What are some of the ways the film illustrates the
interdependence of ecosystems and humans?
After Viewing
ian.umces.edu/imagelibrary/
HIGH SCHOOL STUDENTS
1. Have your students develop concept maps for the film. Using the terms, habitats and main
ideas they took notes on, have them brainstorm how these topics are connected or interdependent.
Have them present evidence to support their ideas.
2. Have your students compare the Mobile Bay watershed to the Mississippi River watershed (or other large river
system of interest) and their own watershed in terms of drainage area and volume of water. (Please see Resources for
helpful websites.)
3. Have your students draw a graph of the seasonal pattern of water flow through the MTD. Using specific habitats and
plants or animals, explain how this pattern affects life in the MTD. (Please see Resources for helpful websites.)
4. There are many other beautiful deltaic regions in the world such as the Nile, Mississippi or Ganges. Have your
students select one, research it and complete a travel brochure or short video for that delta highlighting similarities
with the MTD, showing the dominant plants, animals and explaining some of the current impacts humans are having
on the region.
5. The MTD has an incredibly high biodiversity. Have your students describe at least one group of species that are very
diverse in the MTD and explain why scientists think the MTD is so diverse.
6. Have your students write a reflective essay on either of the following questions. Did the film show you places in
Alabama new to you or more beautiful than you expected? Did you feel pride in or connection to new or old places?
7. Dividing your class into teams, ask them to debate the pros and cons of creating a MTD national park. Note that
they will have to research not only the natural attractions of the MTD, but also federal regulations for resource use
(fishing, hunting, timber harvesting) in national parks.
8. Have your students reflect on their personal impact on the Delta. Do they affect water quality near their home
during their day-to-day life? How? What impact does this have on the Delta’s water quality? Could they reduce these
impacts? How? How much work or effort would this require? What are some of the ways the film illustrates the
interdependence of ecosystems and humans?
Curriculum Resources - Biodiversity
Tombigbee River
1. E. O. Wilson Biodiversity Foundation
Alabama River
Alabama River
cutoff
(http://eowilsonfoundation.org)
2. Southern Wonder, R. Scott Duncan - wonderfully written
and illustrated book about Alabama’s biodiversity
3. NAAEE Biodiversity Collection Resources for Educators
Mobile
River
Cedar
Creek
(http://old.naaee.org/programs-and-initiatives/guidelines-for-excellence/
materials-guidelines/biodiversity-collection-resources-for-educators/)
Tensaw Lake
4. ARKive Education - activities
(http://www.arkive.org/education/teaching-resources-11-14;
http://www.arkive.org/education/teaching-resources-7-11)
5. NASA’s Exploring the Environment - information &
activities (http://ete.cet.edu/gcc/?/biodiversity/)
6. US Geological Survey Biodiversity Information searchable data on US species for older students
(http://bison.usgs.ornl.gov/#home)
7. US Fish & Wildlife Service Environmental Conservation
Online System - searchable data on habitats, endangered
and threatened species for older students
The Mobile Tensaw Delta
Bates
Creek
Middle
River
Mobile
River
Tensaw
River
MOBILE
CO.
Tensaw
River
Interstate Hwy. 65
Bayou
Sara
BALDWIN
CO.
Chickasaw
Creek
Mobile Co.
Bay Minette
Creek
Tensaw
River
Mobile
River
(http://ecos.fws.gov/ecos/home.action)
8. Project Learning Tree - activities for younger students
Baldwin Co.
Blakeley
River
Mobile
Bay
Mobile
Bay
(https://www.plt.org/biodiversity)
9. Actionbioscience - activities for both younger an older
students (http://www.actionbioscience.org/biodiversity/)
10
0
10
0
10
Miles
Kilometers
Map courtesy of
USGS, Pat O’Neil
10
Curriculum Resources - Watersheds
1. Watersheds of Alabama (http://riversofalabama.org)
2. Citizen’s Guide to Alabama Rivers (http://www.alabamawaterwatch.org/resources/publications.html)
3. Discovering Alabama - videos with teachers guides for specific Alabama river systems
(http://discoveringalabama.org/teacher-guides/)
4. USGS Alabama Water Science Center - water quality and streamflow data for streams and rivers in Alabama
(http://al.water.usgs.gov)
5. USGS Science in your Watershed - link to all types of information on water resources for anywhere in US
(http://water.usgs.gov/wsc/index.html)
6. USGS Science School - background information on many water topics for younger students
(http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/)
7. USGS Water Resources site - water-related data for aywhere in US (http://www.usgs.gov/water/)
8. Alabama Water Watch - citizen science water quality data for many areas in AL
(http://www.alabamawaterwatch.org)
9. EPA - Surf your Watershed - watershed-specific data (http://cfpub.epa.gov/surf/locate/index.cfm)
10. Mobile Bay - real-time water quality data for Mobile Bay area (http://www.mymobilebay.com)
11. National, regional and state environmental groups (http://americasamazon.net)
Credits
America’s Amazon was produced by Mary Riser, Lynn Rabren & Ben Raines and can be
purchased through the Alabama Nature Partners at http://americasamazon.net.
America’s Amazon was funded by Alabama Nature Partners with additional classroom funding
by the Weeks Bay Foundation.
The Teachers Guide was a collaborative effort among the film’s producers, Dr. Tina Miller-Way
of the Dauphin Island Sea Lab’s Discovery Hall educational program - and Envionmental
Sciences teacher, Janet Ort of Hoover High School.