Six Mile Cypress
Slough Preserve
♦ Answer Keys are provided.
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Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Table of Contents
Pre Activities:
“A Slough for All Seasons”
Slough Word Search
Design Name Tags
Provides a guideline for use of the facility and tips
for field trip preparation.
A hand-out to give parent chaperones to prepare for
the day of the trip.
Post Activities:
Fill-in-the-Blank
Create-a-Food Web
Journaling
View of the Slough
Resource Lists
Sunshine State
Standards Correlations
Planning:
Group Use Guidelines
Chaperone Guides
A 15-minute video introducing the Slough and all it
has to offer.
*An 18-word search familiarizing students with Slough
vocabulary.
Name tags are a great way to personalize your
students’ visit to the Slough. Our guides will be able
to easily communicate and congratulate your students
on their knowledge and questions. Required.
*Students will use the vocabulary words from the
“Slough Word Search” to fill in these paragraphs about
the Slough.
*Students will create their own food webs, using the
information provided.
Students can remember their trip to the Slough --all
that they learned and saw in a journaling activity.
Students should be encouraged to illustrate their entry
for emphasis!
Have your students draw a picture that illustrates the
trip to the Slough…for example: their favorite plant,
animal, or part of the trip.
Student and Teacher Resources
Chart provided with correlations for activities and
programs.
Group Use Guidelines for Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
This facility is not staffed by a maintenance worker on a full-time basis.
You and your group are responsible to help with the up-keep of this site.
Please Help in These Ways:
Consume food in the PICNIC AREAS ONLY
NO gum, candy, or food is permitted on the boardwalk trail.
Make sure that ALL LITTER is deposited in trash containers.
Please: ADULT LEADERS
ONLY:
take the
“Explorers Companion”
trail guide booklet for their group’s guidance along the way.
The Preserve is a safe haven for plants or wildlife. NO COLLECTING or
harassing of any kind is permitted!
Please respect the space and quiet observation needs of individual visitors
along the way. They are there to learn and enjoy the Slough, too.
Before the Field Trip:
Make nametags for each
student, adult chaperones
and teacher.
Review your confirmation to
be sure you will arrive on
Upon Arrival:
Have a designated person pay the
program fee (if required)
Situate chaperones for crowd control
(Staff and volunteers of the Slough are
there to impart information)
Field Trip Day:
Wear your name tags
Be sure chaperones
receive their guide
Additional Suggestions:
Ask students to wear sturdy,
closed-toe shoes
Hats and sunscreen are a good idea
Any questions or concerns with cancellations
due to weather, or for any other reason,
must be addressed by calling the:
STAFF CELL PHONE @ 239-699-9205!
(No staff will be in the office on the
day of your trip to answer your call.)
Six Mile Cypress
Slough Preserve
Chaperone Guide
Chaperones…
We would like to thank you for
taking time out of your busy
schedule to be here today.
Your presence is extremely
important to the students for
a couple of reasons:
It makes the trip possible
They look up to you…you
are now a role model!
OVER
Six Mile Cypress
Slough Preserve
Chaperone Guide
Chaperones…
We would like to thank you for
taking time out of your busy
schedule to be here today.
Your presence is extremely
important to the students for
a couple of reasons:
It makes the trip possible
They look up to you…you
are now a role model!
OVER
Six Mile Cypress
Slough Preserve
Chaperone Guide
Chaperones…
We would like to thank you for
taking time out of your busy
schedule to be here today.
Your presence is extremely
important to the students for
a couple of reasons:
It makes the trip possible
They look up to you…you
are now a role model!
OVER
As a role model, please keep
these things in mind:
To keep the focus
on the topic, make
sure CELL PHONES
ARE TURNED OFF
The guide is looking for
your help to:
Prevent
distractions
Model the
correct way
to listen
Meet the needs of
the students (for ex-
ample—restroom es-
cort)
Have a wonderful time!
Thanks,
As a role model, please keep
these things in mind:
To keep the focus
on the topic, make
sure CELL PHONES
ARE TURNED OFF
The guide is looking for
your help to:
Prevent
distractions
Model the
correct way
to listen
Meet the needs of
the students (for ex-
ample—restroom es-
cort)
Have a wonderful time!
Thanks,
As a role model, please keep
these things in mind:
To keep the focus
on the topic, make
sure CELL PHONES
ARE TURNED OFF
The guide is looking for
your help to:
Prevent
distractions
Model the
correct way
to listen
Meet the needs of
the students (for ex-
ample—restroom es-
cort)
Have a wonderful time!
Thanks,
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Video Summary
“A Slough for All Seasons”
This 15-minute dynamic and educational video about the Six Mile
Cypress Slough Preserve explains:
♦ What the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
is, and why it was saved.
♦ The dramatic role water plays in our wetland
ecosystem.
♦ How changing water levels affect the plants
and animals that live there.
♦ Hints for finding wildlife.
♦ Why the Slough is so special.
This video is an ideal preview for school field trips to excite the
students about their upcoming adventure. A little background
information will deepen their learning experience.
“A Slough For All Seasons” was produced by Ilene Safron, owner and president of Mail Sail Video
Productions, Inc. Ms. Safron has received several prestigious awards for her environmental productions.
All of this was made possible by a grant from the South Florida Water Management District
through their Water Resources Education Partner Project.
Z
X A N M S T N A L P T E I N G D N P J
C R V B E F I L O P S A R W Q L Y M U K
D E H Y T I S R E V I D O I B E W I L S
J C T R A T U G J A Q C F L U H A D O P
I U C A R R Y I N G C A P A C I T Y A K
L D E K D E T A O D M R E H O F E H P I
Y O D P E A F T H E D I Y B S U R L C Z
T R I F W O P R E S E R V E I R C E O T
D P Y I N M I T L U T E A K D O Y V N E
F J B L A C E G A L F U O M A C C O S I
E E V T I H G O P T O D I A B W L E U J
S H C E D A A B D R I G K Z P G E B M I
T I S R O L E W O E R O R U K O N M E B
U L L X E W D L E B K J N L E N A K R O
A R K I D U L E N L E M I S O S F I U D
R E S O P M O C E D M T A H C L R T I L
Y G O W U D R I R O H E K O J O E W K U
D F F T I K B U G I T G I G E U H O L T
S S E R P Y C T Y U E A Y S I G S Q U E
N E A S T I L E R Y R E T A W H S E R F
See if you can find the words in the word search.
Adaptations
Biodiversity
Camouflage
Carrying capacity
Consumer
Cypress
Decomposer
Energy
Estuary
Filter
Food Web
Fresh Water
Plants
Preserve
Producer
Slough
Sun
Water Cycle
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Word Search
A Slough is a unique type of environment similar to a swamp. The difference is
that the water in the Slough flows in times of high water. Below is a list of words
associated with the Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve.
S T N A L P
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Y T I S R E V I D O I B
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U C A R R Y I N G C A P A C I T Y
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Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Word Search
Adaptations
Biodiversity
Camouflage
Carrying capacity
Consumer
Cypress
Plants
Preserve
Producer
Slough
Sun
Water Cycle
Decomposer
Energy
Estuary
Filter
Food Web
Fresh Water
Vocabulary List
Answer Key
adaptations estuary plants
camouflage filter
preserve
consumers
food Web producers
decomposers fresh Water
sun
energy
6
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Fill-in-the-Blank
The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a safe haven for plants and
animals and provides a corridor for animals to travel from one area to
another in search of food. The water that fills the Slough is
_______ ________ from rain.
As the water flows through the __________ it takes chemicals and
pollutants out of the water and therefore acts like a ______. The water
flows to Estero Bay and forms an ___________. This is a place where
most of all sea life begins and it is a very fragile environment.
At the Slough, there are many _________ and animals that have special
____________ that allow them to survive in such a unique en-
vironment. One adaptation is that some animals are able to look
like their surroundings and ___________ themselves to hide so
that predators cannot see them.
The interactions of plants and animals in the slough can best be
described as a _______ ____. All plants in a food web are ___________
and rely on the ______ for their__________. Organisms that rely on
plants for food are ______________, and organisms like bacteria (or
_____________) break down the organic matter into materials that plants
can use to grow. This is how nature recycles itself.
The Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve is a safe haven for plants and
animals and provides a corridor for animals to travel from one area to
another in search of food. The water that fills the Slough is fresh
water from rain.
As the water flows through the preserve it takes chemicals and
pollutants out of the water and therefore acts like a filter. The water
flows to Estero Bay and forms an estuary. This is a place where most
of all sea life begins and it is a very fragile environment.
At the Slough, there are many plants and animals that have special
adaptations that allow them to survive in such a unique environment.
One adaptation is that some animals are able to look like their surroundings
and camouflage themselves to hide so that predators cannot
see them.
The interactions of plants and animals in the slough can best be
described as a food web. All plants in a food web are
producers and rely on the sun for their energy. Organisms that rely
on plants for food are consumers, and organisms like bacteria (or
decomposers) break down the organic matter into materials that
plants can use to grow. This is how nature recycles itself.
adaptations estuary plants
camouflage filter preserve
consumers food Web producers
decomposers fresh Water sun
energy
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Fill-in-the-Blank Answer Key
Answer Key
Food Web Activity
Create your own food web using
plants and animals you found at
the Slough. Try to connect each
organism with as many other
organisms as you can!
Food Web Activity
Create your own food web using plants and animals you saw at the Slough.
Try to connect each organism with as many other organisms as you can!
Food Web Key
Answer Key
Pre-entries:
What would I like to see at the Slough?
What excites me most about visiting the Slough?
What do I envision the Slough to be?
Post-entries:
What was my favorite plant and/or animal at the Slough?
Why?
What about the trip made me feel really good?
What fascinated me most about the Slough?
Why do I believe a preserve like the Slough is important?
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Journaling Entries
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Resource List
PreK-2
nd
Grade Books
Marshes and Swamps by Gail Gibbons (New York:
Holiday House, 1998)
Squishy, Misty, Damp, and Muddy: The In-Between
World of Wetlands by Molly Cone (Sierra Club, 1996)
3
rd
– 5
th
Grade Books
And So They Build by Bert Kitchen describes, in text and illustrations, twelve
animal architects and why and how they build their unusual structures.
(Candlewick Press, 1993)
One Small Square: Swamp by Donald M. Silver An excellent resource
which includes full-color illustrations, motivating experiments and activities,
an illustrated picture field guide to the habitat, a glossary-index and a
resource list. (Learning Triangle Press, 1997)
The Florida Water Story: From Raindrops to the Sea by Peggy Sias
Lantz and Wendy A. Hale (Sarasota FL: Pineapple Press, Inc., 1998)
The Unhuggables The truth about snakes, slugs, skunks, spiders, and
other animals that are hard to love. (The National Wildlife Federation 1998)
Water up, water down: the hydrologic cycle by Sally M. Walker (Minneapolis:
Carolrhoda Books, 1992)
Wetlands by Emilie Utteg (Chicago: Children’s Press, 1993)
Wild and Swampy by Jim Arnosky offers children ages 6-10 a close-up
picture of the natural wonders found in Southern swamplands. (Harpers Collins
Publishers 2000)
Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Resource List (continued)
Guide Books
Golden Guides, Golden Press New York, NY Golden Field Guides,
Golden Press New York, NY The Audubon Society Beginner Guides,
Random House New York, NY The Audubon Society Field Guides,
Alfred A. Kinopf, New York, NY The Peterson Field Guides, Houghton Mifflin Co.,
Boston, MA
Florida’s Fabulous Series has wonderful pictures and factual information in a
concise format. (World Publications)
Teacher’s Resource
Florida’s Unsung Wilderness
The Swamps
by Connie Bransilver and Larry
W. Richardson “Invites the reader to explore the exquisite beauty of South-
west Florida’s swamplands.” (Westcliffe Publishers 2000)
Activity Books
Wading into Wetlands (Ranger Rick’s Nature Scope) (Washington, DC: Na-
tional Wildlife Federation, 1989) Grades K-8
A wonderful catalog for classroom resources is available from
Acorn Naturalists. Order a catalog by calling (800) 452-2802 or
view their resources over the internet at www.acornnaturalists.com
Benchmarks
Activities
Grades 3-5
Video
Word
Search
Fill-in-the
blank
Create-a-
Food Web
Journaling
View of the
Slough
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Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Sunshine State Standards Correlations
Benchmarks
Grades 3-5
Programs
Bird
Beaks
and Feet
Wildlife
Tracks&
Scat, Oh
My!
Slough in
a Nutshell
Adaptable
Animals
Night
Visitors
Sense-ational
Exploration
Guided
Walk
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Six Mile Cypress Slough Preserve
Sunshine State Standards Correlations (continued)
Contact Information
Andrea Naccarato
Sr. Program Specialist
239-533-7555
E-mail to anaccarato@leegov.com
Website: www.leeparks.org
