The students will investigate a cattail marsh near the school to observe firsthand its importance in the wetland environment. They will discuss the importance of maintaining these marshes along roadways, in pastures, and in riparian areas. 

Students will:

• Investigate animals, birds, and additional plants in a freshwater marsh.
• Observe how these living things share the water resource we have in the North Platte Valley.
• Understand the filtering process that these marshes provide.
• Understand the problems these marshes can be to nearby communities of people (mosquito breeding grounds).
• Research uses of cattails by birds, animals, Native Americans and pioneers.

B1, B7, B11, B14, C4, C6, C9, C10, C11, C12, C14, C20, E1, E13, F11, F12 

Peterson's Field Guide to Rocky Mountain Wildflowers 

Freshwater marshes in the North Platte Valley are created by river and canal seepage, by springs, and by slow moving streams. In some areas the water table creates a marsh. Cattails are native to our valley. Their scientific name is Typha latifolia meaning broad-leaved.  

This is truly an outdoor person's plant. Parts of the plant are edible. The rootstock is easily pulled up and can be eaten raw or roasted in hot coals. The core of the rootstock was dried and ground into meal and used by Native Americans and early pioneers. In some places the leaves are used to weave mats. Female flowers make excellent tinder. The fuzz will ignite with a small spark. Early settlers used the down for bedding and for insulation against frostbite. It can be stuffed into boots in an emergency. The pollen, which is bright yellow and forms on the male flower spikes that grow up from the brown fuzzy "sausages" of the female flower heads, can be gathered and mixed with pancake flour for a fun pancake feed. Cattails are widely used in dry bouquets for decoration. 

Muskrats and geese feed on rootstocks, new shoots, and stem bases. Cattails serve as nesting cover for many birds, including ducks, grebes, sedge and long-billed marsh wrens, red-winged blackbirds, coots, pheasants and many shore birds. Because of its incredible productivity, some scientists consider freshwater marshes to be one of the most important types of wetlands. The cattail marshes also act as a filtering system taking pollutants from the water before it returns to the water table.

In our area, cattail marshes can be a breeding ground for mosquitoes and flies. This causes a problem for nearby communities. The many positive characteristics of a freshwater cattail marsh and its maintenance must be weighed against the effect of mosquitoes and flies in the community. 

Preplanning:

• The teacher needs to find an appropriate cattail marsh near enough to be accessible by foot or short bus ride. Many area farmers have cattail marshes. There are marshes along the North Platte River.
• The national refuge system has cattail marshes at Stateline Island National Wildlife Refuge near Henry, NE, at Winters Creek National Wildlife Refuge north of Scottsbluff, NE, and at Lake Alice National Wildlife Refuge north of Scottsbluff. The state of Nebraska has the Kiowa Wetlands south of Morrill, NE, and the Faucas Springs State Wildlife Management Area west of Bayard, NE. The University Panhandle Station has a freshwater cattail marsh called University Lake north of Mitchell, NE. With permission, any of these areas would work be good field visits.
• Be creative--perhaps you or your students know of another marsh much closer to your location. Have children wear clothing and shoes that can get wet and muddy. A trip in the springtime will reveal more species of birds and insects. A fall trip will have the mature cattails. A late-fall trip can show how the cattails puff and disperse their seeds. 

Trip day:

Proceed to the area. Break into groups of 7 or 8. This allows for better management and allows the students to focus on the lesson. One or two adults should accompany each group. 

1. The first step is to be quiet and listen. Can you hear any birds singing? What other sounds can you hear? What sound does the wind make in the cattails? As the children remain quiet, watch and listen for signs of wildlife. Flying birds, ripples in the water indicating aquatic life, dragonflies, buzzing bees, splashes of frogs, new or old bird nests, or footprints of animals in the mud. Review with the students the background information about the importance of these marshes and how necessary they are to wildlife. 
2. Discuss the use of the water resource. What plants would not survive if the marsh were drained? Would any of the animal life survive at this spot? What do animals do when their habitat is destroyed? Estimate the number of cattail plants around the marsh. 
3. After the quiet observation and discussion time, it is time for some investigation of the plants and the mud and water. Look for variety in the plant life. Note some distinguishing feature so we can use our field guides for identification. 
4. Let the children get their hands in the mud to feel the consistency. Do you see any remains of decaying cattails? Why is this mud so dark? Does this make good soil? Are there any living things in the mud? Bring a bucket of mud back to school with you. 
5. Observe the slow moving or standing water. Look at the density of the plants. Would this possibly make a good filtering system? Why? 
6. Look at the water. Feel the air temperature over the water. Is it warmer or cooler? Feel the water temperature close to the edge and farther out. Does it change in temperature? Water thermometers can be used. Where would the mosquito larvae grow? Could it be sprayed without affecting the rest of the marsh? Are the mosquitoes good for anything? Do mosquitoes carry disease? This is a good research project for motivated students. 
7. When the children seem to be finished with their interest in the marsh, collect a couple of cattails by carefully pulling them up by the roots. If this project is done in a refuge area or on privately owned land, permission must be obtained to collect cattails. 
8. Return to the classroom. Extended projects can be done with the collected cattails and the mud.

• Use the enclosed diagram to identify parts of the cattail.
• Research the uses of cattails and give a report.
• Research diseases carried by mosquitoes.
• Contact the city governing council and check its policy on mosquito control.
• Have a member of Ducks Unlimited speak to the class about how they use cattail marshes for manmade nesting boxes for ducks and geese.
• Dissect one cattail. Try tasting the bulb. If pollen was collected, make some pancakes.
• Use the leaves to weave a mat. Open the rootstock and look at the core. Try drying it and grinding it. Save the head and stem for a dried decoration.
• Use some of it inside a mitten to see its insulating properties.
• Add water to the mud to see if any aquatic microscopic life can be seen.
• Write about the experience, possibly a fiction story entitled "Life in a Cattail Marsh."