Educational Objectives For 3 Day Trips

Florida Springs Manatee Safari Educational Objectives Grades 6-8
Codes in brackets indicate specific standard and/or benchmark addressed by objective

Students will:

-         learn the importance of recording data in a field journal, with an emphasis on the value of each person’s contribution to the total body of scientific observations and the effort to compare and contrast their findings with those of other students (SC.H.1.3.1,4,7)

-         learn the importance of conducting marine water testing, understand salinity and how this is measured (SC.A.1.3.1)

-         understand how events and personalities in Florida’s history have made an impact on this area, from Native Americans to settlers (SS.A.6.3)

-         understand some characteristics of flora and fauna observed in the springs ecosystem and how they are structurally and functionally similar and different  (SC.F.1.3.6,7)

-         learn how a changes in water and habitat affect the manatee’s ability to reproduce and thrive and why they have become endangered (SC.G.2.3.3)

-         understand the link between decreased water levels in the springs and human consumption of fresh water, understand the link between human action and natural resource depletion/ endangered animals (SC.D.2.3.2) (SC.G.2.3.4)

-         learn that organisms living in the fresh water springs thrive there because of its unique qualities, which include a constant temperature (SC.G.1.3.2)

-         understand the force and predictability of the underground water source that feeds the Springs and keeps them at a constant temperature (SC.H.2.3.1)

-         understand what influences the water cycle in South Florida and how this relates both to them and the bigger picture (SC.D.2.3.1)

-         learn the basic features of Karst topography- how and why they are formed and how to recognize them (SC.D.1.3.1)

learn the significance of and build a Native American dream catcher (VA.C.1.3)

Florida Keys Everglades Adventure Educational Objectives Grades 3-5   
Codes in brackets indicate specific standard and/or benchmark addressed by objective

Students will:

-         learn the importance of recording data in a field journal, with an emphasis on using their own powers of scientific observation (SC.H.1.2.1-4)

-         understand how Native Americans were able to utilize Florida’s unique barrier island systems throughout their history and discover how their use of certain plants and trees made a significant cultural contribution to the students’ own lives (SS.A.6.2.2&6)

-         understand the concept that the presence of certain trees are an indication of events that are occurring, noting that they have adaptations that allow them to live in certain areas, with a focus on the salt-water adaptations of the mangroves (SC.G.1.2.2)

-         understand the predictability and logistics behind the KLOE system, with a focus on the Everglades as a natural and interrupted ecosystem (SC.H.2.2.1)  

-         understand the significance of human actions, including their own, in the protection of natural resources such as water and its pollution and redirection in the Everglades area (SC.D.2.2)

-         identify and understand basic freshwater and marine organisms and their unique structures and functions (SC.F.1.2.3&4)

-         learn that human attempts to protect oceanfront properties are often in conflict with the natural processes, for example, hurricanes, that are constantly affecting island systems (SC.D.1.2.4)

-         understand that leaf litter in mangrove estuary decomposes to release nutrients vital to the growth of the juvenile marine creatures living there  (SC.G.1.2.4)

-         understand that organisms both within and between ecosystems are interconnected through examination of Everglades, mangrove estuary and ocean systems (SC.G.1.2.1)

-         understand the impact individuals and group organizations have had on the preservation of natural areas through discussion of John Pennekamp and Marjorie Stoneman Douglas  (SS.D.1.2)

-         understand the basics of astronomy including the changes that occur in the organization of the solar system seasonally (SC.E.1.2)

Florida Keys Everglades Adventure Educational Objectives Grades 6-8
Codes in brackets indicate specific standard and/or benchmark addressed by objective

Students will:

-         learn the importance of recording data in a field journal, with an emphasis on using their own powers of scientific observation (SC.H.1.3.4)

-         understand how Native Americans were able to utilize Florida’s unique barrier island systems throughout their history and discover how their use of certain plants and trees made a significant cultural contribution to the students’ own lives (SS.A.6.3)

-         understand the concept that the presence of certain trees are an indication of events that are occurring, noting that they have adaptations that allow them to live in certain areas, with a focus on fresh water indicator plants and the salt-water adaptations of the mangroves (SC.G.1.3.2)

-         understand the predictability and logistics behind the KLOE system, with a focus on the Everglades as a natural and interrupted ecosystem (SC.H.2.3.1)  

-         understand the significance of human actions, including their own, in the protection of natural resources such as water and its pollution and redirection in the Everglades area (SC.D.2.3.2)

-         identify and understand basic fresh water and marine organisms and their unique structures and functions and how these are related to environment (SC.F.1.3.7)

-         learn that human attempts to protect oceanfront properties are often in conflict with the natural processes, for example, hurricanes, that are constantly affecting island systems (SC.D.1.3.1)

-         understand that leaf litter in mangrove estuary decomposes to release nutrients vital to the growth of the juvenile marine creatures living there  (SC.G.1.3.4)

-         understand that organisms both within and between ecosystems are interconnected through examination of Everglades, mangrove estuary and ocean systems, with emphasis on the human element in these systems (SC.G.2.3.2-4)

-         understand the impact individuals, cultures and group organizations have had on the preservation of natural areas through discussion of Marjore Stoneman Douglas John Pennekamp and the greater history of the Florida Keys  (SS.D.1.3, SS.A.6.3.4)

-         understand the basics of astronomy including the seasonal variation positions of stars and planets in the night sky (SC.E.1.3, SC.E.2.3)

Florida Springs Manatee Safari Educational Objectives Grades 3-5
Codes in brackets indicate specific standard and/or benchmark addressed by objective

Students will: 

-         learn the importance of recording data in a field journal, with an emphasis on using their own powers of scientific observation while working in a group  (SC.H.1.2.1-4)

-         learn the importance of conducting water testing using a variety of measuring tools, understand these tools and begin to interpret the results (SC.A.1.2.1)

-         understand how events and personalities in Florida’s history have made an impact on the area , from Native Americans to settlers (SS.A.6.2.2,3,6)

-         understand some characteristics of flora and fauna observed in the springs ecosystem and how they are structurally and functionally similar and different  (SC.F.1.2.2,3,4)

-         learn how a change in ecosystem and other factors can affect an organism’s ability to reproduce and thrive, with specific focus on the manatee (SC.G.2.2.3)

-         understand the link between decreased water levels in the springs and human consumption of fresh water (SC.D.2.2.1)

-         learn that organisms living in the fresh water springs thrive there because of its unique qualities, which include a constant temperature (SC.G.1.2.7)

-         understand the force and predictability of the underground water source that feeds the Springs and keeps them at a constant temperature (SC.H.2.2.1)

-         understand what influences the water cycle in South Florida and how this relates both to them and the bigger picture (SC.D.1.2.2&3)

-         learn the basic features of Karst topography- how they are formed and how to recognize them (SC.D.1.2.4&5)

learn the significance of and build a Native American dream catcher (VA.C.1.2)