Pine Rockland Walk

 

The pine rockland is a specific ecological niche, habitat, in South Florida that is characterized by being on a slightly elevated, rocky, limestone ridge and having indeginous plants such as pine and palmetto.

          

 

Objectives

Green (Earth Literacy Goals)

  1. Students will learn three characteristics which distinguish the pine rockland.

  2. Students will learn three plants that are indigenous to this habitat.

  3. Students will learn the historic human uses of the plants.

  4. Students will learn the uses non-human animals have for the area.

  5. Students will learn the impact of development on the habitat.

 

ESL

  1. Students will practice field experience note taking skills

  2. Students will practice critical listening skills.

  3. Students will practice academic questioning.

  4. Students will practice using their notes as a source for answering questions.

  5. Students will use their notes for the basis of a written summary.

 

Materials

  • Small notebook and pen or pencil. Tape recorders are optional supplements to note taking.

  • Handouts (see copies)

  • Pine Rocklands: Born from Fire (see copies)

  • Three page handout from Prof. Greg Ballinger. (may be copied and used with his blessing)

  • CD South Florida’s Natural Environment: Ecology and Issues 2002 (see resources below)

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Time

45 mintues to 1 hour

 

Steps/procedures

  • On Kendall Campus there is a pine rockland restoration area that is convenient and is open to others. In addition, we have the Environmental Demonstration Center, which also has a good example and is open to field trips. If these are not convenient then this exercise will need to be approached as a field experience.

  • Downtown, Simpson park has remnants of pine rockland, which is convenient for InterAmerican and Wolfson Campuses. There are areas near most campuses. That can be explored.

  • Prior to the outdoor experience show Prof. Migliaccio’s presentation The Natural Environments of South Florida one or two classes in advance of the trip.

  • Instruct students to wear shoes that are appropriate for walking over rocks and rockland.

  • Distribute the handouts prior to the experience.

  • While walking through the pine rockland area point out examples of the plants on the list.

  • Talk about the need for fire to clear the underbrush.

  • Mention some of the uses of the plants: pine was lumbered; palms were used for food, cootie was a source of starch.

  • Point out the need of the endangered butterfly for the use of cootie plant and that the cootie itself is threatened.

  • Let students touch, smell and observe. Let them have time with the area during which they are not being guided and lectured.

  • At the end, allow time for completing the questions from their notes.

  • The data learned will become the basis for their discussions of the area, reaction papers to be submitted at another time.

 

Resources:

CD South Florida’s Natural Environment: Ecology and Issues 2002, this is a CD produced by Prof. Chris Migliaccio at M-DCC. Among other resources, it contains three PowerPoint Presentations:

  • Water Flow

  • The Environmental Destruction of South Florida

  • The Natural Environments of South Florida.

Prof. Migliaccio has copies available for distribution and use.

See pictures of the Kendall Campus Pine Restoration Project
Read ESL students reactions to the Pine Rockland at Kendall Campus