|
Education Programs |
Wild Florida Adventure
Program Description
Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary is home to the largest remaining stand of virgin bald cypress and the largest nesting colony of the endangered woodstork. There is no better place to study wetland ecosysetms, as well as marsh, wet prairie and pine flatwood habitat areas.
Students, led by Audubon naturalists, travel through the sanctuary on a raised boardwalk in search of all things wild. After the initial introduction to the sanctuary, groups venture through the pine flatwood upland forest, through a wet prairie, and finally into the bald cypress swamp with its lettuce lakes and wildlife. Hydroperiods are discussed, as well as resource management practices, endangered species, native plant and animal life, and the importance of conservation areas.
Many topics discussed correlate to the Sunshine State Standards for elementary students, and teachers opt to visit at times when the curriculum being taught in the classroom mirrors natural happenings in the outdoors.
Wild Florida Adventure Notes from
Corkscrew Elementary ~ Estates Elementary ~ Sabal Palm Elementary
A poem from Sabal Palm Elementary's 5th grade
Wild Florida Adventure Note from Sabal Palm Elementary
During the spring of 2005, the entire fifth grade at Sabal Palm Elementary embarked upon a study of the unique Florida Habitats as an integrated unit, taught in the Literacy block of our day. At that time, we were teaching Social Studies during our content block and by incorporating this instruction during Reading, we were able to continue to teach Science and cover the Sunshine State Standards "G" strands. The habitats studied were the Sand Pine Scrub, Pine Flatwoods, Freshwater Cypress Swamp, and Wet Prairie. Our unit incorporated the video, quizzes, worksheets, and field guides provided and produced specifically for fifth grade by Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary. Corkscrew Swamp was also able to provide us with a suitcase filled with environmental literature for use during the student's research. These various items were an extraordinary resource and, without them, the unit would not have been nearly as successful.
Lisa Andrews from Big Cypress National Preserve kicked off our studies with a visit to all of the fifth grade classes at Sabal Palm Elementary. She brought artifacts common to the local Florida habitats and the students were able to use telemetry equipment to track a "panther" setting the stage for their upcoming studies. Students then watched a video on Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary and took a quiz created by the sanctuary. Concurrently during Guided Reading, the students were researching four species (one mammal, one bird, one reptile or insect, and one plant) unique to one of the habitats we were studying.
Prior to our field trip to Corkscrew Swamp, the students also took a two part quiz which walked them through the Corkscrew Swamp Sanctuary Field Guide thereby enabling them to be educated participants on their field trip as well as serving as another reference source for their research project. The guides at Corkscrew Swamp were extremely complimentary of our student's knowledge during their field trip; undoubtedly a result of the preparation from the resources provided to us by Rebecca and her staff.
When our students returned from their field trip to Corkscrew Swamp, they continued researching their four species. Having had the opportunity to read and prepare prior to their trip as well as experience first hand some of our Florida habitats, they were able to internalize their newly acquired knowledge. The students drew pictures to scale of the mammals, birds, plants, and reptiles/insects they researched and properly placed them on the back walls of each classroom visually transforming them into the four Florida Habitats. Our classroom bulletin boards were also set up like graphs with x and y coordinates which enabled the students to locate their species in the correct habitat and help others find them when they orally presented their research to the class.
The unit was a huge success largely due to the fact that students were able to internalize what they learned through reading. Measurable signs of learning are evidenced by at least five of our fifth graders indicating that they wish to become park ranger when they grow up. Additionally, we must have at least twenty "new recruit" students who wish to become wildlife biologists or continue the pursuit of science as their career path. Several students in one of the fifth grade classes created a math game board with a habitat/ecosystem theme.
Also noted are the students who, just a few short months ago, were writing letters to Governor Bush to persuade him to continue to allow four wheelers in the Picayune Strand -- specifically the Bad Lands area. Now, these very same students have decided that preserving the native habitats might be a better plan.
We are grateful to the staff of Corkscrew Swamp for developing and providing such a high quality fifth grade program to us. We are also grateful to the Collier County Public Schools and our school PTO for helping with the funding of our field trip to the swamp. We sincerely hope we will be able to participate in this field trip again next year and find the funding to do so as it is our intent to incorporate the Florida Habitat Unit into our curriculum again next spring.
by Virginia Craig, 5th grade teacher
Wild Florida Adventure Note from Corkscrew Elementary
Our Corkscrew Swamp habitat unit began with the arrival of all the resources sent to us by the education team. The students were very excited about digging in immediately.
We began with the interesting video about the Corkscrew Swamp. Students worked in groups to complete the activity after watching the video. They were so interested, many asked to watch it again to be sure they took in all the information.
We then moved to the scavenger hunt through the Corkscrew Swamp field guide. Students couldn't believe the amount of flora and fauna that could be found in these habitats right in their own backyards. The field guide activity highlights many important facts for the students as they begin their research. A guide that may have been daunting for students at first glance, was made very manageable by this well thought out scavenger hunt.
During our guided reading block we delved into the delightful fantasy story of "In the Forest of S.T. Shrew." Students were able to relate to Jackie and how she felt faced with a school project that she did not know much about. But after going through the story Jackie learns that there are many, many interesting things in the forest, if you take the time to look. Teachers reinforced this concept and students began to understand that the closer you look and study something, the more interesting it gets.
Many other activities were enjoyed immensely by the students, including "Gator hold graphics" which reinforced graph reading skills that are so important for them and brought a math concept to life in the real world. Also "And then there were none" really brought home the fact that their lives impact the wildlife that lives in this area.
We then began our animal and plant research. The students received a mammal, a plant, a reptile or insect and a bird to do research. They honed their research skills, searching in books provided by the Corkscrew Swamp and did online research as well. They became "experts" on their organisms. Students answered questions and wrote up information on their organisms. They also drew pictures of them to go up on our Corkscrew Swamp Habitats bulletin board. The students studied the bulletin board and talked to classmates about what they researched.
The actual trip to the swamp sanctuary was the culmination of our unit. The students were so excited they could hardly contain themselves. Parent chaperones were impressed that students could identify so many plants and animals out in the wild. Students were thrilled if they got to see the organism that they studied. The activities at the picnic tables were engaging and students enjoyed them. Then when we all got out on the boardwalk, students were in their element! It was an amazing culmination to our entire unit of study. The resources and activities provided by the Corkscrew Swamp team made the experience one that I know the students will never forget!