Elementary School Programs

River Ecology (PreK-2nd Grade)

Let’s explore the ecology of the St. Johns River and learn about the native plants and animals that live there, including manatees, blue crab, and even alligators! Your students will learn about habitats, and adaptations of our native animals through an interactive powerpoint presentation. If the powerpoint does not work for your classroom students our hands on animal artifacts will engage students in a conversation about food webs and ways we can each do our part to take care of our waterways and preserve a home for river organisms. PreK program includes an arts and craft component along with animal artifacts presentation. Max 40 students per program

Enviroscape (3rd-5th Grade)

Our region’s most important natural resource flows through our backyard. Let’s take a look at how the ecosystem of the St. Johns River has supported communities in the past, present, and future. Students will help build a model of their environment and watch how pollution enters our waterways. We will discuss some of the ways we interact with our river every day and how we can protect this natural resource for future generations. Max 25 students per program

EcoWeb (4th and 5th Grade)

Let’s explore the ecology of the St. Johns River and learn about the native plants and animals that live there, including manatees, blue crab, osprey, tape grass, and mullet. Your students will learn about habitats and food chains that exist in our local environment. We will also explore the ways we can each do our part to take care of our waterways and preserve a home for river organisms. Max 25 students per program

Salinity (5th Grade)

What types of water do we have in our St. Johns River? We’ll find out! Using real scientific instruments (refractometers) students will measure how much salt is in a range of water samples taken from our river. They will develop and test their own hypothesis as we introduce students to vocabulary such as salinity, brackish water, freshwater, and refraction. It all comes together as we tie in the water cycle and tidal impacts as well as how salinity influences the ecology and overall health of our St. Johns River. Max 25 students per program