Birds of Prey

"Birds of prey---powerful eagles, hawks, and owls---have very different lifestyles from Florida's backyard songbirds. Also known as raptors, they are predator, hunting and feeding on smaller animals (called prey) such as insects, mice, rabbits , fish snakes, and even other birds. They often eat sick and weakened animals, sometimes even dead animals (called carrion) and they help to keep the population of rodents and insect pests in check." The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 102

Discussion Questions:

1. What physical characteristics do all birds of prey or raptors have in common?
2. Name five types of raptors that can be found in Florida.
3. What animal used to be considered a bird of prey but is no longer considered one by Ornithologists? Why is this bird no longer considered a raptor?
4. What is the difference between a diurnal animal and a nocturnal one?
   

Activities:

1. Go on a field trip to learn more about birds of prey.
2. Choose one raptor to study and include in your notebook.
3. Study the beaks and talons of raptors up close. Draw pictures for your notebook.
4. Print out worksheet and have students circle the raptor talons
   

Suggested Reading:
Peterson Field Guides for young naturalists: Birds of Prey by Jonathan P. Latimer/Karen Stray Nolting

Online Resources:
PDF on Raptors
Conserve Wildlife Raptor Page
Sea World's Raptor Sheet
Raptor Related Words
Skulls Unlimited
IBC (The Internet Bird Collection)
Global Raptor information network

Field Trip Suggestions:

Busch Wildlife Animal Sanctuary

Tour the sanctuary and see several birds of prey on exhibit. Inquire about educational lectures featuring birds of prey.

Okeeheelee Nature Center

Take a nature walk and explore the nature center. Book a group tour and attend the incredible "Raptor Chapter" lecture.

Audubon Center for Birds of Prey
Tour the Audubon Center for birds of prey or book a group tour and get an even more up close look at the amazing birds of prey currently housed at the center.

Introduction to Florida State Symbols

Activities:
Print out the Florida State Symbols PDF and include in your notebook

Suggested Reading:
Florida Facts and Symbols by Emily McAuliffe (2003)

Discussion Questions:
Quiz your students on Florida State Symbols. You may consider making this a game!
Ask your students what their favorite state symbol is and why.

Also see Florida Symbols for more lesson plan ideas and resources

Ten Thousand Islands: An estuary field trip

For part one of our study on the Everglades we went on a field trip just outside of Everglades National Park with 3 naturalists, one of whom is also a U of F Sea Grant Extension Agent. What an amazing learning opportunity this was for our little co-op of 4 adults and 6 children ages 3-9 years old.
During our half day tour with Everglades Area Tours we took a boat through part of Ten Thousand Islands and then set up camp on one of the islands. From there the children explored the beach and estuaries and even had an opportunity to use a seine net. Once the seine net was brought out it was hard to tell who enjoyed it the most----the children or the adults. At any rate, it's safe to say a good time was had by all. We saw some amazing creatures which always reminds me of the incredible Creator we have.


We will include some of the photos below in our Science Notebooks, after we receive a little follow up help from our guide Bryan, in properly labeling and classifying them. The children will then choose one or two of the things we saw today to do additional research on. I am going to take a wild guess and say the Batfish is going to make the short list. For me, a close runner up would be the flat fish. That creature lays on the bottom of the sand with both eyes on one side of its head! It is truly a remarkable looking creature.

During our trip we also had an opportunity to see and touch Sea Pork!

Sea pork got its name because after death, the rubbery tunic bleaches to white, resembling salt pork or fatback.

Please allow slideshow to load below:

Another wonderful find was the Horse Conch, Florida's state shell. After a few false starts with Lightening Welks (left footed) we finally found a couple. It saved us a trip to the local shell store where I most likely would have been talked into purchasing one by the kids.

In addition to the 157 photos taken on our visit, we brought a few treasures home (molt of horseshoe crab, tulip shell, and worm rock). None of them were living, of course.
We are trying to be Young Florida Naturalists after all.

Bird Beaks

Lesson Plans
Eduplace.com Bird Beak Lab
Ranger Rick Naturescope: Birds, Birds, Birds lesson plan

Online Resources:
Backyard Nature Bird Beaks Page
Teacher's Domain Bird Beak Gallery
Bone Clones Osteological Reproductions

Activities:
1.) Visit Peekabeak to learn how birds use their beaks like a tool.
2.) Visit Natural History Museum's Bills and Beak page. Print out and include in lapbook.
3.) Print out the Bird Beak Record Sheet and create a lab activity.
4.) Print out build-a-bird-kit and include in notebook
5.) View Teacher's Domain Bird Beak Gallery with your students and have them guess what type of food the bird eats based on their beak.

Handbook of Nature Study

If you do not have your own copy of the Handbook of Nature Study you can use this online version at no charge.

State Marine Mammal: West Indian Manatee

"In 1975, Florida chose the West Indian Manatee to be the state's Marine Mammal."
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 5

Manatees are mammals whose body structure has adapted to life in the water. Like all mammals, they have lungs and must surface to breathe every four minutes. Manatees spend about 5 hours per day grazing on aquatic plants and can eat up to 150 pounds of food per day. Adults weigh as much as a ton and are 10-12 feet long.

Manatees give birth to one calf at a time and their pregnancy lasts 13 months. The calf will nurse for approximately two years from the milk glands located just under the flippers.

This gentle giant has no natural enemies except people and has no defense except to flee---slowly. Even in the wild sharks do not bother manatees!

Manatees are considered endangered because their numbers have steadily declined due to loss of habitat, water pollution and boating accidents.

Lesson Plan:

• Read pages 5 & 37 in the The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida
• Using photographs from selected books on Manatees have student identify the following body parts on a manatee: Eyes, Nostrils, Flippers, Finger Nails, Tails, Whiskers, and Mouth
• Using a piece of butcher paper roll out 10 feet of paper and draw a large manatee on it. Have children sit or lay on the paper to illustrate how large a full grown manatee is.
• Download the Manatee Puppet Craft, color and assemble the puppet OR create a 3D Manatee habitat craft
  
• Consider adopting a manatee at the special discounted rate of $20 through the club by identifying yourself as a school group.
• Watch this Manatee video online and the one below.

Discussion Topics:

• Who or what is the manatees only natural enemy?
• What do manatees need to survive?
• What can we do to protect manatees?

Suggested Reading:
Manatees by Kathy Feeney
Florida Manatee by Rod Theodorou
Manatees: Peaceful Plant Eaters by Adele Richardson
Manatees by Jody Sullivan Rake
Sam the Sea Cow by Francine Jacobs (illustrated story)
Saving Manatees by Stephen R. Swinburne (older students)



Online Resources:
Defenders of Wildlife Florida Manatee Page
Save the Manatee Club

Materials to Download:
Manatee Coloring & Activity Book
Manatees an Educators Guide
Manatee Fact Sheet
Enchanted Learning Manatee Notebooking pages
National Geographic Manatee printable
Manatee lapbook from Homeschool Share
Manatee Coloring page

Field Trip Ideas:

1.) Visit a Spring or Rehabilitation Center to view Manatees. When viewing Manatees be sure to follow the federal guidelines for watching manatees. A list of suggested field trip destinations is below.

2.) Volunteer at an event to Save the Manatees.

Places to view Manatees

Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park - From Wildwood, near the convergence of the Florida Turnpike and I-75, take Highway 44 west to 490 (West Homosassa Trail) southwest to Highway 19, then south to the park; call 352-628-5343

Crystal River National Wildlife Refuge-

Blue Spring State Park- Take exit 114 off Interstate 4 and follow the signs. Go south on 17/92 to Orange City, about 2.5 miles. Make a right onto West French Avenue.

Manatee Springs State Park- Manatee Springs State Park is located at the end of S.R. 320, off U.S. 98, six miles west of Chiefland.

Chassahowitzka National Wildlife Refuge - One entrance is south of Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park on Highway 19; call 352-563-2088

Fun 2 Dive - with Captain Joseph Detrick; call 888-588-DIVE

Bird’s Underwater Manatee Tours and Dive Center - As with Homosassa Springs, head west on Highway 44 to Crystal River; call 352-563-2763

Florida's Native Plants: Native and Exotic plants

Lesson Plan
Read page 85 (Some of Florida's native plants) to page87

Read pages 131-133 (stop before the section on birds).

Print the Botany Handbook for Florida and either have it spiral bound or place in a ring binder with page protectors as a reference guide for use during your nature walks or remainder of the study. Look through it with your student to familiarize yourself with the contents. Tag any pages of immediate interest for future study.

Print the Invasive and Noninvasive plant flashcards for your region.
Southeast Region
Southwest Region
Central Region
Northeast Region
Northwest Region
Look at them with your student and pull out any cards that you immediately recognize.

Watch Invasive Exotics video online

Discussion Questions:
What is a habitat?

Can you name two common native plants to Florida?

What does it mean when we say that a plant is a native species?

What is a bromeliad and can you name one?

Field Trip:
Take a nature walk with a botanist or naturalist and talk about the native plants and exotic species you see on your walk.

Additional Activities:
Using the Invasive and noninvasive plant flash cards go on a nature walk and see how many plants you can identify. Create a bar chart or pictograph illustrating how many native and non native plants you found.

Print Florida's Native Bromeliads and see how many you can identify in your neighborhood or nearest nature preserve.

Draw a picture of an invasive and noninvasive plant in your nature journal.

Did you find a plant on your nature walk that you couldn't identify for certain? Submit a plant identification request to find out.

Print out a few of the Florida Native Plant and Animal coloring book pages and using photographs of the plant and animal color them realistically for your notebook.

Online Resources:
Identification & Biology of Non-Native Plants in Florida's Natural Areas

Florida Native plant society

Florida Plants Online

Download:
Plant identification service request form
Glossary of flower parts
Glossary of leaf shapes
Freshwater plant bingo
Botanical line drawings
Florida Native Plant and animal coloring book

Everglades

Surrounded on three sides by the warm tropical seas of the Atlantic Ocean, Florida Bay, and the Gulf of Mexico, south Florida is truly different from Florida's other special places. Within this southern part of the state is a vast aquatic land known as the Everglades, unique in all the world. It has been named a World Heritage Site, an International Biosphere Reserve, and a Wetland of International Importance.
The Young Naturalist's guide to Florida; page 13

Lesson Plans:
Read pages 13-18 in the Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida

Download the K-3 Everglades Activity Guide for ideas on extending this unit.

Download the Estuaries 101 Curriculum

Suggested Field Trips:

Visit the Florida Everglades

Visit Ten Thousand Islands and book an estuary tour

Activities:
1.) Download & print Everglades Bingo Cards to play with your students.

2.) Take a field trip to the Everglades. Try to see at least two different areas of the Everglades.
If possible have your students experience the everglades from both land and water.

3.) Focus on an animal or plant that can be found in the Everglades and learn more about it.

4.) Read book selections (see below) with your students. Include a report in your notebook.

Discussion Questions:
What do you know about the Everglades?

What would you like to learn more about?

Suggested Websites:
Everglades National Park

Video Links:
National Geographic Everglades Restoration video
**please note there is a brief shot of a woman in a thong bathing suit**

FAU Everglades Video
Focuses on wading birds

Additional Reading:
Everglades National Park by Wende Fazio
The Florida Everglades by Connie Toops
The Everglades by Wayne Lynch
Exploring Wild South Florida by Susan D. Jewell

Blackpoint Wildlife Drive at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge

Blackpoint Wildlife Drive is a 7-mile auto tour through one of the best wildlife viewing areas within Merritt Island National Widlife Refuge.

It was created in 1963 when NASA created Kennedy Space Center. The refuge provides a buffer for space operations while also protecting key habitat such as wetland, hardwood hammock, and scrub ecosystems. Black Point Wildlife Drive and Cruikshank trail (named after wildlife photographer Allan D. Ruikshank) provide excellent viewing opportunities for migratory birds. Some of which are federally listed. There are twelve stops along the self guided tour (don't forget to pick up your tour brochure before beginning). The park is open year round from sunup to sundown, but is subject to closure during NASA shuttle launches.

Blackpoint Wildlife Drive is a major destination for birders from throughout the world and is part of the Great Florida Birding Trail. Over 320 species have been documented so no matter what season you visit, you are likely to see a variety of birds. The peak season for birding is the cooler months between October and April with optimum conditions occurring from December to February. During these periods, hundreds of thousands of migratory birds use the refuge as a temporary rest stop or spend the entire winter season loafing in refuge impoundments which creates excellent birding opportunities. During warmer months, after the migratory birds have returned to their northern breeding grounds, resident wading birds, shore birds, songbirds and raptors forage in refuge marshes, open waters, and forested uplands to feed their young.

Environmental Educational opportunties are available at the center for grades K-9 making it a wonderful field trip destination.

Tips:
Bring field guides and binoculars to help you identify what you are seeing. If you do not have these items you may borrow them through the loaner optics program that is available at the visitor's center.

The park is most active in the early morning or late afternoon, plan your visit around these times for optimal viewing.

Be on the look out for volunteers or guides who frequent the drive to assist visitors. You will benefit from talking to these knowledgeable and friendly guides.

There are many other wildlife recreation opportunities available at Merritt Island National Wildlife Refuge in addition to Blackpoint Drive including: manatee observation deck, fishing and hunting and canoeing and kyaking. Don't forget to stop off at the Visitor information center which includes interpretive exhibits, a educational video on the refuge , bookstore and 1/4 mile boardwalk.

Considerations:
Buses or Vehicles over 29 feet are not permitted on the drive.
There is no fishing, crabbing or boat launching permitted off the drive.

Related Resources:
Merritt Island Wildlife Association
Nature Photography from within the Refuge
Canaveral National Seashore
Great Florida Birding Trail Guides
Florida Wildlife Commission Publication request form.
Birdwatching Basics

The Visitors Center, located 5 miles east of US1 in Titusville on SR402, is open from 8am to 4:30P Monday-Friday and 9A-5P on the weekends. The center is closed Sundays from April-October. Please call 321.861.0667 for more information.

Birds: The fun of watching birds

You may have thought that you have to be an expert to identify birds, but birding can be enjoyed by anyone, year-round in Florida, wherever you are.
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida, page 95

Birdwatchers are generally more observant than the average person. How else to explain the fact that a birder can identify a bird after, in some cases, only a brief look? In order for a birdwatcher to do so, they must be able to observe color patterns, call notes, overall shape, how it moves or flies, the shape of its wings and even the shape of the bird's bills.



Introducing young children to birdwatching not only exposes them to nature but encourages them to develop their observation skills as well as patience and concentration. Did you know that Florida has the third greatest number of different bird species of any state in the nation? As a Florida resident or educator you have a unique opportunity to expose your students to a variety of local and migratory birds using only basic equipment and bird identification skills .



Suggested Activities:

1. Go on a nature walk and see how many types of birds you can identify.
2. Learn more about the local birds you've seen and create pages on them in your notebook.
3. Participate in the Great Backyard Bird count (see below)
4. Can you name all of the birds pictured in chapter 19 of your book?
5. Create a "life list" with a checklist of all the birds you have seen in your lifetime. It can be detailed to include date, time, and weather or simple, only listing the birds you have seen. If you want to keep it simple, consider adding gold stars in your field guide to identify the birds you have seen.
6. Build a bird feeder and check on it regularly for visitors. Consider joining Project Feederwatch.
   
7. Become a member of the National Audobon Society
8. Practice using your field guide. Do you know how it is arranged and grouped? Field Guides are grouped and arranged similarly to a dictionary or encyclopedia. Once you've determined how your guide is arranged or grouped use sticky notes to divide the sections.
   

Suggested Reading:
The Burgess Bird Book for children by Thornton W. Burgess
Handbook of Nature Study by Anna Botsford Comstock

Additional online resources:
Whatbird? online field guide
Cornell lab of ornithology
Great backyard bird count
Project Feeder watch
Florida Birding Trail
National Audubon Society Kids' Page
Birdwatching Basics from the Florida Wildlife Commission

Jonathan Dickinson State Park

This 11,500-acre park is named for Jonathan Dickinson, a Quaker merchant whose vessel shipwrecked nearby in 1696. Jonathan Dickinson State Park is located just south of Stuart, Florida. The park teems with wildlife from 13 natural communities, including sand pine scrub, pine flatwoods, mangroves, and river swamps. The Loxahatchee River, Florida's first federally designated Wild and Scenic River, runs through the park. Ranger-guided tours of the 1930s pioneer homestead of Trapper Nelson are available year-round. Visitors to the park can enjoy paved and off-road biking, equestrian, and hiking trails, Boating, canoeing, kayaking, and fishing.

A variety of wildlife can be found in the park including: deer, raccoons, bobcats, foxes, opossums, alligators, otters and over 140 species of birds.

The nature and history of the park comes to life through exhibits and displays in the Elsa Kimbell Environmental Education and Research Center. Programs for the kids, or for the whole family, are also offered here. The park also offers two full-facility campgrounds and a youth/group primitive campground. Visitors can arrange boat tours of the river and rent canoes, kayaks, and motorboats by calling (561) 746-1466. Located 12 miles south of Stuart on U.S. 1.

Online Resources:
Download park brochure or learn about available Ranger Programs.

Field Trip Tips:
Plan on spending the day at the park. Arrive in the morning and take the river tour, stopping off at Trapper Nelson's, take a picnic lunch break in the pavilions near the playground before going to the nature center where you can schedule labs in advance. The water is higher in the summer but it makes for a cooler trip if you go in the winter or spring. There is really no bad time to visit this incredible park.

Have you visited Jonathan Dickinson State Park? Share your field trip experiences in the comments section or by linking your blog post below.

Loxahatchee River

Loxahatchee means "river of the turtle," which is a fitting name for the Loxahatchee River which is one of the few rivers in the United States that can boast such a diversity of plant and animal life due to its various fresh and saltwater ecosystems. This river winds slowly through the Jonathan Dickinson State Park and was designated as Florida's first, "National Wild and Scenic River" in 1985.

This scenic river winds through subtropical cypress and mangrove swamps. Orchids, leather ferns, Pond-apple trees, red mangroves, sabal palms, century old cypress trees, and a variety of bromeliads (air plants) can be found along the river's edge. Otters, raccoons, bobcats, ospreys, wading birds, alligators and a variety of turtles including: Peninsula cooters, softshells and Florida snapping turtles, live along the river---hence the name.

Painting By Jackie Brice

Discussion Questions:

What are bromeliads? Can you name a few? (answer page 174; YNGF)

What does brackish water mean? (answer)

When a river takes on a dark color like tea because of the tannic acide from vegetation, what is it called? (answer page 24, YNGF)

Online Resources:
Loxahatchee River Historical Society

Field Trip Suggestions:
Take a trip down the Loxahatchee River by visiting Jonathan Dickinson State Park or Loxhatchee River Center

Video:
Of course no video could do a trip down the Loxahatchee River justice, but here is a preview.

Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site

The Loxahatchee River is one of the few wild and natural rivers remaining in southeast Florida. This beautiful river winds its way through both freshwater and saltwater ecosystems making it one of the few rivers in the United States that can boast such a diversity of plant and animal life.

It is here on the Loxahatchee River that you will find Trapper Nelson's campground. As a child Trapper told his parents that when he grew up he was going to find a place out in the woods where he could live off the land, away from everyone else...and he did in 1936. Although he was a loaner for the most part, for 38 years he became a local legend known as the "Wildman of the Loxahatchee" because he marketed himself to tourists as a modern day Tarzan who wrestled alligators (including a 3-legged one- named Stumpy that he kept as a pet), and trapped Florida wildlife that he sold in town or by mail order.

When you arrive at the Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site you will be greeted by a Ranger who will give your group a personal tour of Trapper Nelson's "zoo", guest cabin, woodpiles, Personal cabin, Chickee Shelter, and water tower. Everything is an original with a few things being restored as needed using authentic materials and tools.

Plants you will see:
Wild almond
Bamboo
Citrus
Mangoes
Sausage Tree
Surinam Cherry
Guava
Pineapple
Screwpine
Java Plum

Online Resources:
Trapper Nelson from Jupiter Kids History website.

If you are still curious about this local legend, you can read more about Trapper Nelson in, Life and Death on the Loxahatchee by James Snyder.

The site is open Monday, Thursday, Friday, Saturday & Sunday from 9AM-5PM. River tours are offered five days a week aboard the 25-passenger Loxahatchee Queen II. Please call 561.746.1466 for tour times and information.

Have you visited the Trapper Nelson Interpretive Site? If so, share your experiences with us in the comments or by linking your blog post using Mr. Linky below.

The Devil's Millhopper Geological State Park

Devil’s Millhopper gets its unique name from its funnel-like shape. During
the 1880’s, farmers used to grind grain in gristmills. On the top of the mill
was a funnel-shaped container called a "hopper" that held the grain as it was
fed into the grinder. Because fossilized bones and teeth from early life forms
have been found at the bottom of the sink, legend has it that the millhopper was
used to feed bodies to the devil. Hence, Devil’s Millhopper.

The Devil's Millhopper is a 120-foot sinkhole that formed when the roof of an underground cave collapsed. It is now a National Natural Landmark and it's evil sounding name comes from the reported finding of fossilized bones and teeth at the bottom of the hole. Visitors can walk around the 1.5 mile rim nature trail or descend the 236 boardwalk steps into the Millhopper. Students should observe how the change in elevation affects the type of plants that grow there. There is an outdoor open-air Visitor's Center with a few exhibits and an audio/visual presentation.

Sinkholes and caves are similar to springs in some ways, for they are all "holes in the ground." A sinkhole can be shallow--less than a meter (a few feet) deep---or it can be very deep. More sinkholes occur in Florid than any other state.

The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 35

Three basic communities exist in this 63 acre park: The sand hill, the hammock, and the swamp. Pine trees grow in the highest area with the most sunlight and where the soil is dry and sandy. Because the widely spaced trees allow sunlight to reach the forest floor, there is a thick cover of grasses and flowering plants here. Broad leafed trees are found in the moist area of the hammock while gum and willow trees grow in the small swamp area of the park.

Besides the Millhopper itself, you will find many animals within the park including: a variety of frogs, lizards, snakes, birds and small mammals. The Gopher tortoise can also be found here and is listed as a species of concern.

The park is open 9AM-5PM Wednesday through Sunday and admission is $2 per vehicle.
We toured just as the park opened and had the entire Millhopper boardwalk to ourselves!

4732 Millhopper Road

Gainesville, Florida 32653

Phone: 352-955-2008

Have you toured the Devil's Millhopper? Please share your experiences in the comments or by linking your blog post below.

Chapter 2

Lesson Plan:
Read pages 8-11 in YNGF

Create your own nature journal. You can email education@audubon.org to request a FREE copy of "Nature Journaling for Everyone"

Go on a nature walk and record your observations in your nature journal.

Look at samples of other nature journals either online or from the suggested reading below.

Illustration by Deirdre Gill

Online Resources:
Green Guide for Kids page on creating a nature journal

How to make/keep a nature journal

National Audubon Society Educator Resources

Shared Online Homeschool Nature Journal

Sample Nature Journal as a tool for learning

Charlotte Mason Style Nature Study Squidoo Lense by Jimmie

Suggested Reading:
Keeping a Nature Journal by Clare Walker Leslie
The Country Diary of an Edwardian Lady by Edith Holden



Have you finished Chapter Two? Share your projects and ideas with us by posting a comment or linking to your blog post below.

State Tree: Sabal Palm (Cabbage Palm)

used with permission from
Jacquelyn Modesitt Schindehette
www.floridalandscapes.com

This tree was important in historical times, when early settlers used its leaf heart for food and its logs and fronds to build shelter.
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida (page 4)

Lesson:
Read the selection on page 3-4, and 91,

Discussion Questions:
What is another name for the Sabal Palm? And why did it get that name?
What did the Seminoles use the Palm fronds for?

Of 14 species of palm trees native to the United States, 11 can be found in Florida
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 91

Interesting Facts:
The Sabal Palmetto is the most widely distributed palm in Florida. It grows in almost any soil and has many uses, including food, medicine, and landscaping.

Activities:
1.) Take a nature walk and identify and examine the Sabal Palm.

2.) Include a photograph or drawing of the Sabal Palm in your notebook and label the parts of the tree and important identifying facts.

3.) Sample a Hearts of Palm Salad.

Field Trips:
Visit a nature center or preserve with Sabal Palms.

Online Resources:
Floridata page on Sabal Palms
Sabal Palm PDF Fact Sheet

Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park

This 210 acre park is home to native Florida wildlife and is one of the only places where you can see an West Indian Manatee 365 days a year (the park is open year round). The State Park is a rehabilitation center for injured and orphaned West Indian manatees, which reside there until they are able to be returned to the wild.

Winter and Early spring is the best time to visit the park. You can start your visit with a leisurely pontoon boat ride down Pepper Creek to the main entrance of the park. Along the way you may see ospreys nesting, limpkins, herons, egrets, wood ducks, turtles and maybe even an alligator or otter.

The park has several exhibits including Wildlife Walk where you can see Great Horned Owls, Barn Owls, Florida Barred Owls, Grey and Red Foxes, bears, bobcats, otters, deer, alligators, Florida Panther, key deer, birds of prey, songbirds and a wide variety of wading birds.

Don't miss the Reptile House which features native snakes and other reptiles or the Children's Education center which offers some hands on learning opportunities and an interesting display of skeletons and bones.

The Fishbowl, a floating underwater observatory, offers a unique below-the-surface view of the manatees and native fishes.

Regular Educational presentations are made daily.

Contact Information:
Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park
4150 S. Suncoast Blvd
Homosassa, Florida
34446 352.628.5343


Have you visited Homosassa Springs State Wildlife Park? Post a comment about your visit or link your blog post directly below!

Loggerhead Marinelife Center

Loggerhead Marinelife Center is an amazing place to visit with children. It is a sea turtle hospital for injured and rehabilitating loggerhead sea turtles, green sea turtles, leatherback sea turtles, Kemp's ridley sea turtles, and hawksbill sea turtles. Although it is self-guided, there are plenty of docents and volunteers available to answer your questions. The new facility is comfortable with ample parking and turtle viewing is easy for even the youngest child.

Private tours are available Tuesday-Saturday by calling (561)627-8280. The tour is one hour in length and is $5 per adult and $3 per child. Tours can be tailored to your needs with prior notification. Some tour guides will take groups to the beach to discuss beach ecology, pollution, sea turtle nesting biology and ocean ecology. If this interests you, please be sure to mention it when making your reservation.

A variety of educational programs are available including Turtle Tots, their program for 3-5 year olds. Contact 561.627.8280 x105 for more information.

Exhibits include: an exhibit hall featuring the history of Loggerhead Marinelife center, The Archelon exhibit featuring the replica skeleton of an ancient sea turtle, Beach Ecology and Shells! an interactive drawer experience, the rehabilitation center and an outdoor children's play area. There is also an on-site museum gift shop.

You may also adopt a sea turtle or view current patients here.
Admission is free, but a donation is appreciated. Memberships are also available and encouraged. Click here to view membership levels and benefits of membership.

Contact Information:
Loggerhead Marinelife Center
14200 US Hwy. One
Juno Beach FL 33408
561-627-8280 fax 561-627-8305

Hours:
Monday-Saturday 10-5 and Sunday 12-3.

Have you visited Loggerhead Marinelife Center? Share your field trip below!

State Pie

In 2006, the Florida legislature named the Key lime pie the state Pie, after several years of consideration. Sweet potato pie was the other contender.
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 6

Activities:
1.) Read the history of the key lime pie
2.) Either make or sample a key lime pie with your students. You may also want to try a Key Lime Pie on a stick or other key lime pies available from Key Lime Shop.

Additional Online Resources:
Click here to view House of Representatives SB 676- Official State Pie/Key Lime bill

State Flower

"One of the most fragrant flowers of any tree---the orange blossom is one of Florida's oldest symbols."
The Young Naturalist's Guide to Florida; page 4

Did you know...
The orange tree was first found in Southern China and North India. Because Europeans in the 1500’s valued the fruit for its medicinal qualities, it was imported by Portuguese traders into around the sixteenth century. By the seventeenth century, small greenhouses were being built in Europe to cultivate orange trees, which by then were known for their sweet taste. The orange tree reached America in the nineteenth century, introduced to Florida by the French. Today, California, Arizona and Florida are the chief orange-growing states in the Unites States.
excerpt above; read more here.


Activities:
Download and print the State Flower coloring page for your notebook.


Field Trip:
Visit an orange grove.

Additional Online Resources:
Flowerpedia Orange Blossom page.

State Seal

Discussion Questions:

1.) What items were changed on the state seal in 1970 and 1985 to better reflect Florida?
2.) Ask your students to describe or name the details within the seal pictured above.
3.) Why does Florida have a state seal? Where and how is it used?
4.) What size is the state seal?

Activities:
The state seal is featured on the State Flag. Download , color and include in your notebook.

Additional Online Resources:
Netstate's Great Seal of Florida page

State Nickname

The state nickname, "Sunshine State" was made official in 1970 and used to be on every license tag. While Florida is officially known as the sunshine state, there have been other nicknames associated with Florida such as: the alligator state, everglades state, and the orange state to name a few.

Discussion Questions:

1.) Why do you think Florida's nickname is The Sunshine State?
2.) Do you think this is a good nickname for Florida? Why or why not?

Activity:
How many things can you find with the state motto on it?
Include them in your notebook.

Additional Online Resources:
Netstate Introduction to Florida