First of all, let me just state, that my husband took this photo in Everglades National Park in South Florida and I think he was way too close to that gator! (OK…he was on an official park tour and the guide told them how close they could get…and he followed all the rules…and Great-Grandma was with him…but…Are You Kidding Me!)
That being said, I tend to get most of my blog ideas from photos that either I have taken, or that family members or friends give me. It is amazing how many ideas you can get from a photo. If you think about it, photos are visual memories of what we have seen and done. I really don’t think I would come up with a quarter of the ideas I have without looking at photos.
So when I saw this photo (after my initial horror) I thought about all the interesting authentic projects you could do about alligators. Basic facts about alligators. How they live. Where they live. What they eat…
Their history in South Florida has been one of near extinction to the re-population of the species. How was this accomplished? Why was this important? Most people react to gators the way I do. Why do we care if a species like the alligator becomes extinct? (Great authentic lessons here about humanity, ecosystems, and the interdependency of species.)
How is an alligator different from a crocodile? Where are alligators found? Crocodiles?
Lots of ways to go with this…and just remember…snap that picture and run!
The Educational Journey 