Introduction
Florida is home to one of the most unique ecosystems in the world—the Everglades. In this WebQuest, students will explore why the Everglades are important, what plants and animals live there, and how people can help protect this special environment.
Guiding Questions:
What is the Everglades?
What plants and animals live there?
Why is it important to protect the Everglades?
Learning Objectives (aligned to Bloom’s Taxonomy):
Remember: Identify basic facts about the Everglades
Understand: Describe animals and plants that live in the Everglades
Apply: Explain one way people can protect the Everglades
Create: Work with peers to create a simple visual presentation
Florida CPALMS Alignment (Examples):
SS.K.G.1.1 Identify basic facts about Florida
SC.K.L.14.3 Observe plants and animals in their environment
LAFS.K.SL.1.1 Participate in collaborative conversations
Task
You will work in a small group to create a short narrated PowerPoint or Google Slides presentation about the Everglades. Your group will include:
- What the Everglades are
- At least two animals or plants
- One reason the Everglades are important
- One way to help protect it
Each group will present their project to the class.
Process
- Form Groups: Students will work in groups of 3–4.
- Assign Roles:
- Researcher: Finds facts about the Everglades
- Animal Expert: Focuses on Everglades animals
- Plant Expert: Focuses on Everglades plants
- Presenter: Helps explain the slides to the class
- Explore Resources:
- Create Presentation:
- Use pictures and short sentences
- Practice narrating together
- Prepare to Present:
- Practice speaking clearly and taking turns
Evaluation
Students will be evaluated using the following rubric:
| Criteria |
Excellent
"4" |
Good "3" |
Emerging "2" |
Need Support "1" |
|---|---|---|---|---|
| Content Accuracy | All facts are correct | Most facts correct | Most facts correct | Limited Understanding |
| Group Collaboration | All members participate | Most Participate | Most participate | Miminal Participation |
| Presentation Skills | Clear voice, eye contact | Most Clear | Mostly clear | Need Support |
| Creativity | Visual and effort shown | Adequate Visuals | Few visuals | Minimal Effort |
Conclusion
Through this WebQuest, you learned about the Everglades, the plants and animals that live there, and how people can help protect this important ecosystem. Working together helped you practice teamwork, communication, and research skills.
Enrichment Activity:
Explore more about Florida wildlife by watching this kid‑friendly video:
https://kids.nationalgeographic.com/nature/article/everglades