A Resource for Educators

General Information

The NE Florida Sea Grant Extension Program offers a variety of educational programs throughout the year.  The Sea Grant agent is available to hold workshops for teachers and youth leaders in the areas of marine and coastal ecology.  4-H marine science summer camps for different age groups are held in several counties.  The Sea Grant agent helps develop study materials for the 4-H Marine Ecology Judging Event (contact your local 4-H agent for more information about this competition which is usually held in October each year).  Teacher workshops range from 2 hours to 3 days and topic areas include estuaries, coral reefs, field studies and aquaculture.  For information about marine-related careers, check out www.marinecareers.net. Check for current marine education-related job vacancies.

Florida teachers who collect marine plants and animals as part of their teaching should be aware of the special collecting permit that is available through the Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission.  For information about the permit, see the Florida Marine Science Educators Association website.  Free workshops are held annually at the FMSEA and FAST conferences.  

Exploring our Environment--from the ocean to the river

5-day adult educational "day camp" program that focuses on coastal ecology and human interactions with the coastal environment.  The program is based in the town of Marineland.  The next program will be offered from March 10-14, 2008.  Cost is $100 for the week.  You may download a brochure with registration form here (Adobe pdf file; 251 KB).  If you have any questions, please contact Maia at 904-209-0430 or at mpmcg@ufl.edu.

This page contains links to PowerPoint presentations and activities that have been developed by Maia McGuire, NE Florida Sea Grant Extension Agent.  I hope that you will find them useful and would appreciate hearing any feedback that you might have to give.  Note that in some cases the presentations contain species common to northeast Florida; these species may not be the dominant ones in other parts of the state.  I have tried to specify the audience for which the presentation or activity was designed; in most cases the presentations can be modified for a variety of audience ages/knowledge levels.

To download PowerPoint presentations and activities, RIGHT CLICK on the desired link and select "save target as."  If you want to view the presentation or activity, click on it with the LEFT mouse button.  The size of each file is given in parentheses--some of the files are quite large and may take some time to open and/or download.  If you would like files sent to you on CD, please contact Maia by e-mail or at 904-209-0430.

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Estuaries

Slideshows available (PowerPoint 2000)

  • There's an Estuary Living Next Door (13.3MB)
     60-90 minute presentation (can be used without the species descriptions)--biology and ecology of estuaries, some of the common species found in NE Florida estuaries.  Contains notes section.  Designed for high school/adult audiences.
  • Salt Marshes (2MB)
    15-20 minute presentation on the biology and ecology of Florida salt marshes (common plants & animals).  Designed for adult audiences.
  • Florida Seagrasses (1.3MB)
    15-20 minute presentation on the biology and ecology of Florida's marine seagrasses.  Designed for adult audiences.

Activities

  • The Edible Estuary (75KB PDF)
    Uses food products to represent the biotic and abiotic components of the estuary.  Kids get to eat it when they're done!  I've used this with all ages (K-gray).  Activity takes about 15 minutes; longer if you talk about each of the components as they are added.  Allow time for cleanup at the end!
  • Food Web Cards (454KB PDF)
    Set of 30 cards, each represents a component of the estuarine food web.  Designed to be used with food web activity using yarn (start with producers and pass yarn back and forth between producers and their consumers; repeat for all predator-prey relationships in the food web.  Once web is complete, examine what happens when one of the links in the web is removed (because of natural causes or human activites.)  Works best with 2nd grade and older.
  • Useful estuary web resources
  • Horeshoe crabs
    Information and Activity

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Beaches

Slideshows available (PowerPoint 2000)

  • Beachcombing (4.4 MB)
    30-60 minute presentation on beaches, seashells, sea beans and other treasures.  I usually pass around items during this presentation and spend some time discussing them, so the length of the presentation is variable.  Presentation is for a general audience (I have used with all ages).
  • Sea Turtles (1.5 MB)
    20-minute presentation on sea turtles (brief descriptions of the 5 species that nest on Florida's Atlantic beaches).  General audience.

Activities

  • Beach seining
    Instructions on the proper technique for using a 2-person beach seine net.  From Delaware Sea Grant.
  • Beach scavenger hunt (689KB PDF)
    Scavenger hunt designed to make participants aware of the sources of items they find on the beach.  Includes background information about many of the items on the list, as well as questions for discussion.  Works with all ages, best for 2nd grade and older.
  • Beach book (coloring book) (192KB PDF)
    Coloring book for kids to color, cut out and assemble.  Best for K-2nd grade.
  • Sea turtle activities for elementary school (922KB PDF) and middle school (217KB PDF). Activities developed by Susanna Musick (Virginia Sea Grant program)

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Coral Reefs

Slideshows available (PowerPoint 2000)

  • Coral Reefs (3.7 MB)
    Approximately 60 minute presentation designed for adult audiences.  Biology and ecology of coral reefs; includes topics of reproduction and bleaching.  Complete notes section.

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Field Studies

Definitions

Equipment

  • Annotated equipment list (196KB PDF)
    Photos and descriptions of field equipment used by Florida School for the Deaf and Blind.  Most equipment is geared towards aquatic studies.
  • Making a quadrat (80KB PDF)
    Instructions for assembling a quadrat out of PVC.

Coastal Plants

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Whitney Station

Whitney Station

Looking at a sea urchin

Looking at a Sea Urchin

sorting fish

Sorting Fish

Beach Day

Beach Day

Beach Seining

Beach Seining

Downloads