Surrounded on three sides by the warm tropical seas of the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico, south Florida is truly different from Florida’s other special places. Within this southern part of the state is a vast aquatic land known as the Everglades, unique in all the world. It has been named a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance.
The Young Naturalist’s guide to Florida; page 13
Lesson Plans:
Read pages 13-18 in the Young Naturalist’s Guide to Florida
Download the K-3 Everglades Activity Guide for ideas on extending this unit.
Download the Estuaries 101 Curriculum
Suggested Field Trips:
Visit the Florida Everglades
Visit Ten Thousand Islands and book an estuary tour
Activities:
1.) Download & print Everglades Bingo Cards to play with your students.
2.) Take a field trip to the Everglades. Try to see at least two different areas of the Everglades.
If possible have your students experience the everglades from both land and water.
3.) Focus on an animal or plant that can be found in the Everglades and learn more about it.
4.) Read book selections (see below) with your students. Include a report in your notebook.
Discussion Questions:
What do you know about the Everglades?
What would you like to learn more about?
Suggested Websites:
Everglades National Park
Video Links:
National Geographic Everglades Restoration video
**please note there is a brief shot of a woman in a thong bathing suit**
FAU Everglades Video
Focuses on wading birds
Additional Reading:
Everglades National Park by Wende Fazio
The Florida Everglades by Connie Toops
The Everglades by Wayne Lynch
Exploring Wild South Florida by Susan D. Jewell
