Lesson 1: Upland Habitat

Students will learn about the interconnectedness of different upland habitat components and what would happen if a component, such as native grasses, were removed. Then, the instructor will teach students what a habitat is and how organisms use them. The lesson differentiates between and describes pinelands, hardwood forests, and other upland habitats.

Hands on experience: "Habitat Exploration"

Lesson 2: Upland Animals

This lesson begins with students playing a game to visualize how animals differ in their habitat needs, adaptations, and specialized behaviors. The instructor will teach students about how each animal has its own role, or niche, in upland ecosystems. This lesson introduces the different species groups birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and invertebrates.

Hands on experience: "Wildlife Tracks"

Lesson 3: Living Together in Upland Ecosystems

Students will listen to a story and visualize the impact of fire in Florida's ecosystems in their introduction activity. The instructor will then explain the importance of fire in upland habitats and its many functions such as seed dispersal, germination, and optimizing plant growth and diversity.

Hands-on experience: "Social Media on Fire"

Lesson 1: Freshwater Habitat

This chapter begins by involving students in a fun acitvity that demonstrates how soils and groundcover filters water before it reaches the aquifer. This is followed by a lesson to introduce students to terms such as karst topography, the Floridan aquifer, and hydroperiods. Students will learn about three broad categories of wetlands (marsh, swamp, and open water) and the more specific habitats and characteristics that fall within each type. 

Hands on experience: "Shady Study"

Lesson 2: Freshwater Animals

Students will begin this lesson by participating in a card game to introduce them to various wildlife, plant, and habitat relationships in the freshwater ecosystems of Florida. Like in the Upland Ecosystem chapter, this lesson will teach students about the different species groups birds, mammals, reptiles and amphibians, and invertebrates in freshwater ecosystems, as well as fish. 

Hands on experience: "Photo Safari"

Lesson 3: Living Together in Freshwater Ecosystems

This lesson focuses on how we impact freshwater systems with pollutants by first having students create their own watershed model with paper and markers to visualize traveling pollutants. Instructors will teach students about how we affect water quality, what mechanisms nature uses to protect itself, and examples of restoration projects in place to bring ecosystems back to their historic state. 

Hands on experience: "My Acre"

Lesson 1: Coastal Habitat

This chapter is started by engaging students in a game to help them visualize the concept of sustainable resource use in coastal habitats. This is followed by a lesson that discusses how we define coastal ecosystems and the benefits they provide to humans. Students will also learn about different types of coastal ecosystems, such as estuaries, marine environments, coastal uplands, transitional zones, and more. 

Hands on experience: "Predator Protection"

Lesson 2: Coastal Animals

Students begin this lesson by participating in a game of bingo to gain familiarity with coastal animals in Florida, with emphasis on invertebrates. The instructor then teaches students about the invertebrates. fish, reptiles and amphibians, birds, and mammals you find in these ecosystems. The concept of invasive species is also introduced. 

Hands on experience: "Invasive Investigators"

Lesson 3: Living Together in Coastal Ecosystems

This last lesson begins with students participating in an experiment to allow them to observe the presence of microplastics. The rest of this lesson also focuses on the sources and impacts of plastics on coastal ecosystems. Students are also taught ways they can decrease their plastic use to protect bodies of water.

Hands on experience: "Gauge your Microplastic Temperature"