While on the site near the river, see if you can determine how high the river gets, based on the vegetation. Are you able to tell if the shoreline itself has changed over time, and if so, how? Look closely to see what plants grow in wet areas by the river, what grow in the dry areas back from the river, and which, if any, grow in both areas. Sketch a leaf, stalk, or other distinct feature of the plants you observe. Back in the classroom, organize your plant sketches within a Venn diagram to classify the plants: those in wet areas, those in dry, those in both wet and dry.

Look to see if you can find areas of relative new plantings, and others that are more established. Do you see evidence of invasives?