Introduction
What's up, environmental explorers!
Do you ever wonder why the Everglades National Park is one of the most important ecosystems in the world? In today's WebQuest, you will investigate the Everglades and answer this essential question:
Why is the Everglades important, and how can we protect it?
Learning Objectives
By the end of this activity, students will be able to:
- Describe - the Everglades ecosystem (Bloom: Understand)
- Analyze - human impact on the environment (Bloom: Analyze)
- Evaluate - conservation efforts (Bloom: Evaluate)
- Create - a presentation proposing solutions (Bloom: Create)
Task
You guys will work in a group to create a narrated PowerPoint presentation explaining:
- What the Everglades ecosystem is
- Why it is important
- Problems it currently faces
- Solutions to protect it
Final Product should be a 5 to 7 slide group presentation with narration
Each group member will have a specific role
Process
Step 1: Form Groups
Work in groups of 4-6 students, 4 is probably the easiest to manage, so I highly recommend it
Step 2: Assign Roles
Each student chooses ONE role:
- Researcher – Finds facts about the Everglades
- Environmental Analyst – Studies human impact
- Solution Designer – Proposes solutions
- Presenter – Organizes and narrates slides
(For groups with more than 6 find more roles and responsibilities to allocate to the other members)
Step 3: Research the Everglades
Try to stick to the following resources as they are the most reliable for this task:
- National Park Service
- World Wildlife Fund
- National Geographic
Focus on: wildlife, water systems, threats such as pollution, climate change, and human development
Step 4: Analyze the Problem
Focus on answering these questions:
- What is damaging the Everglades?
- Who is responsible?
- What are the consequences?
Step 5: Develop Solutions
Create at least 3 realistic solutions, like:
- Conservation programs
- Laws/policies
- Community awareness
Step 6: Create Presentation
Make sure to include:
- Title slide
- Ecosystem overview
- Problems
- Solutions
- Conclusion
Step 7: Present
Each group presents their project to the class and try to make sure each member talks at least once
Evaluation
Rubric (Total: 100 points)
| Criteria | Points |
|---|---|
| Content Accuracy | 25 |
| Depth of Analysis | 20 |
| Creativity | 15 |
| Team Collaboration | 15 |
| Presentation Skills | 15 |
| Organization & Clarity | 10 |
Conclusion
Great work, students!
You have learned the importance of the Everglades and how human actions impact ecosystems. Understanding these issues helps us become responsible citizens who can protect our planet.
Enrichment Activity
Explore more about ecosystems here:
- National Geographic Education
Write a short paragraph answering:
How can you personally help protect the environment?