These panels show an artist's rendition of what one of the local freshwater marshes of the Delaware River shoreline may have looked like at four snapshots in time. The scenes span about 500 years, beginning with the Lenni-Lenape culture and ending with modern times.

The work emphasizes the changing relationship between humans and their environment. What things did the marsh land provide to the people who lived there and what impact did the humans have on the marsh as a habitat for plants, animals, and for themselves?

The class did a lot of study to prepare for this artwork. On field trips they studied birds, Lenni-Lenape Indians, and Colonial tools and industry. They worked on timelines and local history projects. The class took a trip to the marsh to sketch plants and look for plants and wildlife. A guest speaker from the Department of Natural Resources and Environmental Control (DNREC), which has done much of the work restoring the marsh, prepared a slide show and hands-on presentation for the class about the history of Gambacorta Marsh.

Working in groups, students then brainstormed what their panels would show. With resource books, they then practiced executing the vehicles, shelters, figures, plants, and animals shown in their artwork.

Students continued their work building and installing Tree Swallow boxes for the the marsh.

This work was part of an ongoing Adopt-a-Wetland project by the students of Class 5.
In the Adopt-a-Wetland program, a group takes on the job of understanding, improving, and educating others about a local wetland. Class 5 is in its second year of adopting the Gambacorta Marsh in the City of New Castle (See 05-06 Projects.)