Exploring the Everglades: Florida’s Unique Ecosystem

Welcome, students! Have you ever wondered how the Everglades became one of the most unique ecosystems in the world? In this WebQuest, you will explore the geography, wildlife, and environmental challenges of the Everglades. By the end of this lesson, you will be able to:

Guiding Questions:

1. What makes the Everglades a unique ecosystem?

2. How do human activities impact the Everglades?

3. What conservation efforts are being used to protect it?

Learning Objectives (Aligned with Florida Standards & Bloom`s Taxonomy):

Knowledge/Remember: Identify key plant and animal species in the Everglades.

Comprehension/Understand: Describe the ecosystem and its functions.

Application/Apply: Analyze human impact and conservation strategies.

Evaluation/Evaluate: Assess the effectiveness of conservation methods and propose solutions.

Standards Alignment: SC.4.L.17.1 (Ecosystems) & SC.5.L.17.1 (Florida ecosystems and human impact)

You will work in groups to create a narrated PowerPoint presentation that explains the Everglades ecosystem. Your presentation should include:

1. An introduction to the Everglades and its geography.

2. Major plants and animals found in the region.

3. Human impacts on the ecosystem.

4. Current conservation efforts.

5. Your group’s recommendations for protecting the Everglades.

Your final project will be shared with the class, and you will answer questions from your peers.

Here are the instructions to follow: 

1. Make groups of 3 to 4 students.

2. Give each person a job or responsibility. (A researcher gathers information about landforms, animals, and efforts to protect the environment. Designer: Make images, maps, and graphs. The presenter will record their voice for the slides and share the results.) 

3. Create slides that summarize the key findings. 



4. Do research by using trustworthy websites.

• Everglades National Park Official Website The Florida Department of Environmental Protection is responsible for protecting and managing the Everglades
• National Geographic – Everglades explores the unique ecosystem of the Everglades, a vast wetland in Florida. This area is home to a wide variety of plants and animals, many of which can’t be found anywhere else. The Everglades play a crucial role in maintaining the environment, providing habitat for wildlife, and supporting the local community. The importance of conservation efforts is highlighted to protect this special place for future generations. 
• Make your slides according to the project guidelines. Be sure to add pictures, maps, and sources. 

5. Use PowerPoint or a similar program to record your voice for each slide. 

6. Turn in your presentation by the deadline and be prepared to answer questions from your classmates.

Your project will be graded using the following rubric (100 points total):

Congratulations! By completing this WebQuest, you have learned about the Everglades ecosystem, its unique wildlife, and the challenges it faces due to human activity.

Enrichment Activity:

Explore Google Earth Everglades Tour to take a virtual tour of the Everglades and identify habitats of different species. Create a short reflection paragraph on what surprised you most.

• National Park Service – Everglades National Park
  
  Website: https://www.nps.gov/ever/index.htm

• Florida Department of Environmental Protection – Everglades
  
  Website: https://floridadep.gov/everglades

• National Geographic – Everglades
  
  Website: https://www.nationalgeographic.com/environment/article/everglades

• Google Earth – Everglades Virtual Tour
  
  Website: https://earth.google.com/web/@25.2866,-80.8987,0a,5000d,35y,0h,0t,0r

• Florida State Standards for Science
  
  Florida Department of Education. SC.4.L.17.1, SC.5.L.17.1

Grade Level:

4th–5th Grade

Subject Area:

Geography / Science

Lesson Duration:

2–3 class periods (or 3–4 45-minute sessions)

Learning Objectives:

• Students will identify key plants, animals, and features of the Everglades.

• Students will describe the ecosystem functions and analyze human impacts.

• Students will evaluate conservation efforts and propose solutions.

Standards Alignment (Florida State Standards):

• SC.4.L.17.1: Identify and describe ecosystems and their interrelationships.

• SC.5.L.17.1: Analyze human impacts on ecosystems and discuss conservation efforts.

Bloom’s Taxonomy Levels Addressed:

• Remember: Identify species and ecosystem characteristics.

• Understand: Explain ecosystem roles.

• Apply: Analyze human impacts.

• Evaluate: Assess conservation strategies and propose solutions.

• Create: Produce a narrated group presentation.

Materials Needed:

• Computers or tablets with internet access

• PowerPoint or Google Slides

• Microphone or recording tool for narration

• Access to reliable websites and online maps

Assessment / Evaluation:

• Use the provided rubric to evaluate content accuracy, creativity, collaboration, presentation skills, and research quality.

• Optional: Peer review of presentations to promote reflection and feedback skills.

Differentiation / Modifications:

• Provide sentence starters or slide templates for students needing support.

• Allow flexible group roles to match student strengths (e.g., researcher, designer, narrator).

• Offer extended learning links for advanced learners (e.g., Everglades restoration projects).

Teacher Tips:

• Preview all websites and links to ensure age-appropriateness.

• Model a sample slide with narration to show expectations.

• Encourage students to cite sources on a “References” slide.

• Monitor group collaboration and provide guidance for equitable participation.

Enrichment Opportunities:

• Students can create a mini-documentary video instead of a narrated slideshow.

• Explore the Google Earth Everglades virtual tour for real-world observations.

• Compare the Everglades ecosystem to other wetlands globally and discuss differences.