Bioregion
Matheson Hammock Mangroves

Part 1:  The Hammocks

See pictures of Matheson Hammock Park

Objectives

Green (Earth Literacy Goals)

1. Students will learn about a natural hammock ecological niche and how it differs from other niches
2. Students will learn what plants are native to the hammock.
3. Students will learn what animals are native
4. Students will learn the importance of the hammock and its connection to other niches, such as mangrove, pineland, and other areas.
5. Students will learn how the hammocks fit into the geography of South Florida.
6. Students will learn the problem of exotic flora and fauna.
7. Students will learn to identify at least three native plants.
8. Students will learn to identify at least three native animals.

 

ESL

1. Students will increase their academic vocabulary.
2. Students will learn observational note-taking skills
3. Students will learn to use voice modulation appropriate for various settings.
4. Students will to make clear descriptive oral and written statements.
5. Students will learn to use English signage.
6. Students will speak and write comparative statements based on clear analysis.

Materials

Teacher Materials

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

• What to Wear handout (see copy)

• Release forms (see copies)

• Directions to the park. (use Mapquest www.mapquest.com)

• Field guide information (see copy)

• Trail guides* (see copy)

• Directions to the park. (use Mapquest www.mapquest.com)

 

Student materials:

• Small (pocket sized) notebooks

• Mechanical pencils with retractable leads.

• Bug spray

• Shoes for walking that can get wet if necessary.

• Snacks

• A wristwatch

• A plastic bucket for holding collections.

 

Optional Materials:  (Needed if this activity can be coupled with Hammock Activity #2.)

• Optional bathing suits and towels for the tidal pool.

• If the sand bar is included, nets with at least a three foot handle.

• Plastic buckets.

• A flat pan.

 

Time

1- 2  hours  --This depends on how fast you walk and how much you do.

 

Class Preparation

There is no special or prior permission necessary from The Matheson Hammock Park if the activities are within the parks normal hours of operation of Sunrise to Sunset.

1. Inform your chairperson in writing of the details of the trip.

2. Students must fill out and turn in to you a release form (see copy) prior to participation. You must have those for every person who goes. So if a spouse of a student goes along, at your discretion, that person will have to sign a release. This is necessary for college liability issues. You must keep these on file. Take extra blank ones along with you in case a student has a last minute change of heart and shows up.

You should NOT allow students to participate without the releases.

3. Preliminary discussions should talk about what is appropriate behavior on the trip. This is less an issue of discipline than one of how to work together to have an enjoyable and educational experience. Discussion topics should include:

• A discussion of quietness and the advantage it provides for seeing and hearing animals. 

• Staying together and being aware of were everyone is. Discuss how to react to seeing animals and what to do and not do.

• Discuss fears and clarify those that are reasonable and those that are irrational.

• Show students how to communicate to others silently when they see something interesting. 

• Talk about staying on the path and why.

• Discuss racing the bicycles and why it is not allowed in the park and why it is contrary to the intent of the experience.

• Talk about cell phones, radios, beach toys and how they should be left at home.

• (You might wish to have a cell phone for emergency purposes and let them know that the phone you have is only for such a case.)

• Let them know that while it is outside and an excursion,  it is still a class, so while dress may be casual, behavior and language still follows classroom rules.

• Discuss what is appropriate for collection and release; what is appropriate for collection and removal; and what may not be collected in any manner and should only be observed.  For example, small animals such as shrimp, insects, etc. may be held temporarily and should be release close to the collection point. Fallen flowers and leaves and of course trash may be collected and removed. Flowers on the plant, plants, larger (use your hand as a measure of large and small) animals should be left to observation only.

Talk about the back packer’s ethics:

• What you bring in you take out.

• Leave no trace that you were there.

• Explain what the implications of these are; such as, taking out our own trash and not marking the environment. They should take back memories, notes, photos, recordings and leave the rest as found.

• Arrange to meet in the east parking area just off Old Cutler Road. Start on the east hammock path. Begin with the east hammock area and cross over to the west hammock area. There are some interpretive signs that are self-explanatory. The trail guide is for the west hammock path.

If students are going through more or less on their own then you must arrange a rendezvous time, and place at the end of the trail. In this case it is relatively simple as the trail empties into the parking area for the tidal pool and a table is conveniently nearby that point of exit.

Steps/procedures

 Show Prof. Migliaccio’s presentation The Natural Environments of South Florida one or two classes in advance of the trip.

Part 1:

• Time for the hammock walk is about an hour. If you are not going to do the mangrove and tidal pool exercise then, you may stop in the west hammock area and use the picnic tables for the students to jot down reactions and to discuss what they have seen.

• Near the pond that is in the west area there are a number of species of animals. There are many large iguanas and an occasional alligator.

• If you are going on to the mangrove and tidal pool exercise at this point (see other exercise,) then this would be a good time for a break. There are restrooms and water fountains.

Vocabulary

mangrove	shoreline	nursery	erosion
roots	seed	seedling	branch
canopy	undergrowth	native	exotic
haven	bay	tide	tidal pool
sandbar	poisonous	eatable	hammock
symbiosis	estuary	protected	tropical
indigenous	aquifer	web	wild
domestic	feral	brackish

Resources:

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.

There are various good field guides for fish and marine animals. Here are links to Websites about Florida's fish and marine animals.

• Field Guides –

  • Plants of South Florida

  • Trees of South Florida

  • Shorebirds of North America

  • Wading Birds of North America
     

• These are laminated and reasonably priced. They are available at all Everglades Park stores and on-line at www.seaveyfieldguides.com

• *The trail guide is being updated and will be available from Maimi-Dade Parks and Recreation, Natural Areas Management, 22200 SW 137 Av. Miami FL 33170. Contact Sonya Thompson, Restoration Biologist, 305-257-0933 ex. 228, sonya@miamidade.gov

What to Wear, Bring, Do (not do)

Do Not ...

• bring tobacco, firearms, or alcoholic drinks.

• leave cell phones, radios, and beepers in the car.

• throw trash on the trails. Carry it out of the park and depose of it in park receptacles or at home.

Do Wear

• comfortable clothes, such as shorts and tee shirts, sneakers,

• a hat

• sunglasses

• a light wind breaker jacket (if the weather is cool)

Do Bring

• A daypack (book bag)

• Sunscreen

• Snacks

• Water

• Camera and film or other medium

• Money

• Small (pocket sized) notebooks

• Mechanical pencils with retractable leads.

• Bug spray

• Shoes for walking that can get wet if necessary.

• A wristwatch

• A plastic bucket for holding collections.

• Towel (if you are doing the Mangroves and Tidal Pool activity along with this one)

Do Prepare before the trip

• Check that all the equipment is usable.

• If we are biking, ride the bike several days before.

• Make sure the bike is working and the tires aren’t flat, and make sure that you remember how to handle it.

• Check to see that you have everything you need before leaving the house.

• Arrive early.