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Lesson Plan

"Alligator Hole Eco-Drama" Wildlife: 4-6th Grade

Grade Level:

Fourth Grade-Sixth Grade

Subject:

Biology: Animals, Biology: Plants, Ecology, Environment, Hydrology, Performing Arts

Duration:

60 mins

Group Size:

Up to 36

Setting:

indoors or outdoors

National/State Standards:

Next generation FLORIDA SUNSHINE STATE STANDARDS
SC.4.L.17
SC.5.L.17
NS.K-4.3
NS.K-4.6
NS.5-8.3

Overview

The students will be able to: a) describe the wet/dry season of the Everglades/South Florida, b) explain why alligators dig a “gator hole” during the dry season, c) explain why the alligator is sometimes called the “Keeper of the Everglades,” and how they help other animals, d) explain what a keystone species is and why they are important to the environment.

Objective(s)

The students will be able to: a) describe the wet/dry season of the Everglades/South Florida, b) explain why alligators dig a “gator hole” during the dry season, c) explain why the alligator is sometimes called the “Keeper of the Everglades,” and how they help other animals, d) explain what a keystone species is and why they are important to the environment.

Background

There are two seasons in southern Florida: the wet and dry season.  During the wet season (May-November) rain falls almost every day and surface water levels rise dramatically.  During the dry season (December-April), the rains diminish and surface water levels drop.  Wildlife becomes concentrated in areas where water remains. The American alligator’s uses its powerful tail, jaws and feet to push away dirt and vegetation to keep a pool of water open throughout the dry season. Alligator holes become one of the few remaining wet habitats during the dry season. As a result, a variety of species concentrate and visit the alligator holes during the dry season to get water to drink, to live and for some, to eat the other animals that gather there. The American alligator is a keystone species that plays a unique role in the Everglades by enabling other species to survive the dry season. 

Procedure

• Step 1
• Step 2
• Step 3
• Step 4
• Step 5
• Step 6
• Step 7
• Step 8

Ask your students if they know the different Everglades seasons, and if they know how many seasons the Everglades has. Let them know that the correct answer is two. Discuss that a lot of people will say that there are four seasons: summer, fall, winter, and spring. However, in the Everglades there is not really the bitter cold frost of winter and we hardly even notice the changing color of leaves in the fall. Instead, what we can notice is the changing of the water levels. The wet season starts around the middle of May and continues through to November with the last major storms. The wet season is followed by a period of very little to almost no rain. This is the start of our second season, the dry season. The dry season, runs from December through April. During this season, everything starts to dry up in a short amount of time. 

Ask the students why they think American alligators are important to have in the world. Possible response - Alligators are a keystone species, a keystone species changes its environment for its own use, like the alligator making an alligator hole that helps other plants and animals. Discuss with them some of the reasons American alligators are so important to the Everglades.  Make sure to emphasize how important this water in the alligator hole is to other animals to live in and drink from. Conclude discussion by addressing the misconception that alligators are “bad” animals and do not contribute to the health of the Everglades.

Choose volunteers for roles in the ecodrama. Put signs around their necks with their animal on it. Assign about one-half of the group to be bluegills. The remaining one-half of the class should include an American alligator (1); an Everglades racer (1); a pig frog (up to 3); a river otter (1); a white-tailed deer (1); a bobcat (1); a great blue heron (1); and a Florida panther (1).  Give appropriate signs to each animal actor.

Ask the students to act out the narration of the ecodrama while you or a student read.

Bring the students back together as a class.  Summarize what they acted out.

If time allows, give students different roles and have them act out the scenario again.

Ask if they think it would be hard to survive, going into the alligator holes in order to get water.

Wrap-up: Have the students answer the following questions in their science notebooks:

• What are the two seasons that occur in the Everglades? (wet and dry)
• Why are Alligators important to other wildlife? (as a keystone, they change their environment and provide for other species.)
• What does the American alligator provide for wildlife? (Water and a place to live.)
• What does the wildlife provide for the American alligator?” (Food).
• Why do American alligators dig these alligator holes? (To create a home)
• How do alligator holes help other animals? (provide water and food)
• How can we help protect the American alligator?

Step 1

Ask your students if they know the different Everglades seasons, and if they know how many seasons the Everglades has. Let them know that the correct answer is two. Discuss that a lot of people will say that there are four seasons: summer, fall, winter, and spring. However, in the Everglades there is not really the bitter cold frost of winter and we hardly even notice the changing color of leaves in the fall. Instead, what we can notice is the changing of the water levels. The wet season starts around the middle of May and continues through to November with the last major storms. The wet season is followed by a period of very little to almost no rain. This is the start of our second season, the dry season. The dry season, runs from December through April. During this season, everything starts to dry up in a short amount of time. 

Step 2

Ask the students why they think American alligators are important to have in the world. Possible response - Alligators are a keystone species, a keystone species changes its environment for its own use, like the alligator making an alligator hole that helps other plants and animals. Discuss with them some of the reasons American alligators are so important to the Everglades.  Make sure to emphasize how important this water in the alligator hole is to other animals to live in and drink from. Conclude discussion by addressing the misconception that alligators are “bad” animals and do not contribute to the health of the Everglades.

Step 3

Choose volunteers for roles in the ecodrama. Put signs around their necks with their animal on it. Assign about one-half of the group to be bluegills. The remaining one-half of the class should include an American alligator (1); an Everglades racer (1); a pig frog (up to 3); a river otter (1); a white-tailed deer (1); a bobcat (1); a great blue heron (1); and a Florida panther (1).  Give appropriate signs to each animal actor.

Step 4

Ask the students to act out the narration of the ecodrama while you or a student read.

Step 5

Bring the students back together as a class.  Summarize what they acted out.

Step 6

If time allows, give students different roles and have them act out the scenario again.

Step 7

Ask if they think it would be hard to survive, going into the alligator holes in order to get water.

Step 8

Wrap-up: Have the students answer the following questions in their science notebooks: What are the two seasons that occur in the Everglades? (wet and dry) Why are Alligators important to other wildlife? (as a keystone, they change their environment and provide for other species.) What does the American alligator provide for wildlife? (Water and a place to live.) What does the wildlife provide for the American alligator?” (Food). Why do American alligators dig these alligator holes? (To create a home) How do alligator holes help other animals? (provide water and food) How can we help protect the American alligator?

Assessment

Ask the students why the alligator has been called the “Keeper of the Everglades.” Explain how this is an interrelationship. 

Additional Resources

Everglades Eco-Drama Narration

• During the dry season a huge American alligator digs a hole to hold water using his/her strong tail and legs. [Prompt alligator to enter the hole.]
  He/she uproots grass and mud, slashing his/her powerful tail, digging with his/her legs and carrying away debris in his/her mouth. [Prompt alligator to act out motions.]
• The alligator continues to work on his/her hole while he/she lives there, deepening it, widening it and keeping it free of' debris.
• Alligator holes are often the only source of water for wildlife during the dry season. The first to find the water are the fish who swim their way to the alligator hole. [Prompt bluegills to swim into the alligator hole.] The bluegills are happy now that they have found water, even though it is smaller and an alligator is near. Although the alligator will eat some of the bluegills, it is their only hope for survival. [Prompt the alligator to tag one or two fish who will not survive.]
• Next the great blue heron flies to the alligator hole. Here it will find fish to eat. [Prompt great blue heron to eat a bluegill.]
• Reptiles such as snakes like the Everglades racer, and amphibians like pig frogs slither, hop and swim to the alligator hole. [Prompt racer and pig frogs to enter the alligator hole.]
• Finally, mammals seek out the fresh water provided by the alligator hole. A river otter slides in to drink and find fish. [Prompt the river otter to enter the hole.] White-tailed deer eat nearby grass and come for a drink.[Prompt the white tailed deer to come near the alligator hole.] A bobcat and maybe even a lone Florida panther hide in order to get a meal, and then may visit the alligator hole for a drink. [Prompt the bobcat and the Florida panther to come near the alligator hole.]
• Now everyone is in the alligator hole. The wet season has arrived, the water levels rise and animals disperse. [Prompt all students to return to their seats.]

Vocabulary

Habitat, inter-relationships, wet/dry season, adaptations

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