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Welcome to the first phase of Florida Panther Net, a multidisciplinary interactive
website on the Florida panther and its southwest Florida environment, designed
for everyone interested in learning more about the state's official animal.
It includes the latest information and activities on the natural history
of the Florida panther, its habitat,
threats to its survival, and history
and conservation efforts.
The Florida panther is an umbrella species. It ranges throughout nearly
1 million hectares in southwest Florida, encompassing a number of distinct
natural communities. Protection of the Florida panther protects hundreds
of other species of plants and animals that share its range. Panther protection
also means clean air, water, and open space for humans.
The Panther Handbook contains photos,
video, audio, maps, graphs, and charts as well as text. Embedded in the
handbook are short interactive activities as well as research questions,
thought questions, ideas for class projects, and references.
The "Who Am I?" and the "Mysteries" are accompanied
by separate teacher guides. Each guide includes grade level, overview,
links to Sunshine State Standards, vocabulary, annotated references, and
extensions. Also on the site are a cat capture slide show and a coloring
activity.
Activities and Features under Development
- Data Drawer Disaster—Explore photos, maps, and notes and call experts
to help sort out the late Professor Small's data on natural communities
within the panther's range.
- You're the Vet—Begin with the cat capture slide show (now on the site
under Coryi cinema), go to vet school, and work along side a vet in
the wild and help her determine the health of a number of Florida panthers.
- Classification Challenge—What is scientific taxonomy? Find out by
using clues to classify the Florida panther and other animals as well
as plants within its range from kingdom to species.
- The Parts Make the Whole—Complete the puzzles and discover how the
parts of a deer, a panther, an armadillo, and a raccoon work together
to contribute to the animal's survival.
- Days of their Lives—Use map skills and deductive reasoning to track
the movements of several Florida panthers and to learn about their daily
lives.
- Can You Find a Solution? Role play various parties with an interest
in the Florida panther. Work together to try to find a way to help ensure
the survival of the panther. Study maps to evaluate possible sites for
reintroduction of the panther. Post your solution on the website.
- Off-line activities—mystery board game, animal sign concentration.
What's for Supper (food web activity)
- Forum for teachers to share their ideas about how to use Panther Net,
ask an expert feature, and panther reading room for students to share
stories and artwork.
This site requires certain programs and plugins in order to experience
its true multimedia content. Please visit our technical
page to get a list of the software you need. Problems and feedback
on this site can also be found there.
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