Environmental Learning Outside the

Classroom (ELOC)
This guidebook provides lesson ideas and activities to get students engaged with
outdoor learning.
Created by the Virgin Islands Marine Advisory Service (VIMAS), an extension arm of
the University of Puerto Rico’s Sea Grant College Program.
For more information, contact:
Howard Forbes Jr. (VIMAS Coordinator)
ph: 340-693-1672/340-513-7203
E-mail: howard.forbes@live.uvi.edu
Website: vimas.uvi.edu
 VIMAS Lesson Plan
Topic: Marine plants: Mangroves and Seagrasses
Information

Grade level: 4th to 12th

Estimated time for activity: Lecture: 15-20 minutes, Activity: 30-60 minutes

Purpose: Procedure:
To teach students about mangroves and Students will be given a small lecture and
Activity

ecological and cultural importance. The briefing on the material. They can then be
lesson will also focus on seagrasses. engaged in a hike through a mangrove forested
area and play games that focus on mangroves.
Students will be actively engaged in discussion about marine plants. Students should be
Assessment

able to identify all 4 species of mangroves found in the Virgin Islands. Lastly, students
should also be able to identify several species of seagrasses and things that they can do
minimize their impact on these species.

http://www.nps.gov/viis/learn/nature/mangroves.htm
References

http://mangrove.org/video/St_Croix.pdf
http://bit.ly/1E1SUM0
http://bit.ly/1GCsEJQ
http://www.projectseagrass.org/education.htm
 Mangrove Ecosystems

Red mangroves (Rhizophora mangle) are a species of mangrove that is

ecologically important. The large red roots pictured above provide habitat for
many organisms such as fish, coral, sponges, and crabs. These mangroves also
help to trap sediment and other pollutants before they can enter the ocean.
 Mangroves of the
Virgin Islands

The white mangrove (Laguncularia racemosa) is one of four species of

mangroves found in the Virgin Islands. While in bloom, they produce distint
white flowers. The white mangrove does not have the same ecological
benefits as the red mangroves do, however; they do provide nesting habitat
for birds.
 Mangrove Ecosystems

Black mangroves (Avicennia germinans) are one of the four species of

mangroves found in the Virgin Islands. This species of mangroves have a special
adaptation called pneumatophores which enable them to exchange gases in the
atmosphere. They are also able to excrete salts from the pores of their leaves.
Fiddler crabs are usually associated with this species of mangrove.
 Mangroves of the
Virgin Islands

The buttonwood mangrove (Conocarpus erectus) is one of four mangrove

species found in the Virgin Islands, however; it is considered an associate
species rather than a true species. These mangroves are usually found
furthest from the shoreline in comparison to the other three species of
mangroves.
 Circle of Life
Group Activity
Each student selects a species tag.
These tags display organisms found
within a mangrove ecosystem as
well as their connection to each
other. One student is handed a roll
of string and passes that string to
another player in the circle of life
that they are connected to (found
on the back of the tag). This
continues until all players in the
circle are connected. Once all
players are connected, the leader
will present the group with a
scenario that impacts the
ecosystem. All affected organisms
Mangrove ecosystem inhabitants
are removed from the circle until
no organisms remain.
 Mangrove nursery
Fun Activity
Using plastic bottles, you can
grow red mangrove
propagules and start your
very own nursery. They will
grow either in sand or in
ProMix potting soil. After
about 6 months, you
transplant them into an
already established salt pond
to help sustain the forest.

Within the Virgin Islands, all species of mangroves are protected by the Virgin
Islands Code. Consult with a trained professional or local authorities within
the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service.
 Seagrasses of the
Virgin Islands
Syringodium filiforme
Thalassia testudinum

http://www.ncl.ac.uk/tcmweb/remote/images/seagrass.jpg
http://deepnessproxy.appspot.com/imageproxy/http%3A%2F%2Fwww.
thedeepness.org%2Fsites%2Fdefault%2Ffiles%2Fcontent_item_images%
2FThalassia_testudinum_2.jpg

In the Virgin Islands, there are three Halodule wrightii

species of seagrasses: Thalassia
testudinum, Syringodium filiforme, and
Halodule wrightii. Seagrasses perform a
number of ecosystem services such as
stabilizing the sediment, providing
habitat, as well as
http://patrickamears.blog.com/files/2011/05/Halodule-wrightii.jpg
http://jcho.masgc.org/frames/data/halodulewrightii.html
 Seagrass mapping

Fun Activity
You can be a part of the Citizen Science movement and help collect scientific
data that helps researchers. Using transects and quadrats, students will snorkel
in different bays and document the various species of seagrass they encounter.
Students can also take underwater photos and video to help them with their
data collection. Afterwards, students can upload their data (presence of species)
to the following map by following http://arcg.is/1Ew6kpc