LESSON 1

Title: Why Are The Everglades So Special?

Objective: 

The student will recognize and identify one valuable aspect of the Everglades National Park's environment and draw conclusions as to why they value it.

Materials:

Activities: 

  1. Students need to begin an Everglades Journal; they can make their entries using a computer-generated journal and save information to a disk and the hard drive. Students will then complete a K-W- L Chart (what I know, what I want to know, and what I learned). The students need to write down what they know and what they want to learn about the Everglades. At the end of the unit they will add the what I learned section.
  2. Students can log on The Everglades  and search through the Everglades to pick one favorite plant, animal or activity common to the Everglades.
  3. Once chosen they need to print  a picture of it.  Then they will cut and paste it on a 3x5 card.
  4. Students will write a description of the animal, plant, or activity underneath  their picture.
  5. Ask students to tape their cards to their shirts and wander around the room reading each others cards.  As they move around  the  room they should discuss their cards.
  6. Reassemble into large group and begin discussion.  Have them identify purpose of activity and describe their cards in an oral presentation.

Evaluation: 

Students evaluate each other's presentations about Everglades plants, animals or activities for accuracy and clarity using a Student Evaluation Checklist.

Extension: Publish an Everglades Newsletter

Homework: 

Read a local newspaper or online newspaper and bring in an article about an animal habitat, the environment, environmental protection, or the Everglades. Share the who, what, why, where and when of article.