CEDAR GROVE — Elementary school students hope their artwork can inspire conservation efforts for the Florida everglades.
“These animals are endangered and we should help them,” third-grader Madison White said Monday.
Madison was one of about 20 classmates in Heather Bennett’s third grade class at Cedar Grove Elementary School working on their “Save the Everglades” posters. All the posters share the same structure; the southern portion of the state, from Tampa on down, with cities like Tampa, Miami, Orlando and Melbourne are indicated with black dots and then drawings of animals wade in a mass of green.
--- PHOTOS: CEDAR GROVE STUDENTS MAKE POSTERS»»-
--- VIDEO: SAVE THE EVERGLADES»»
Alyvia Andrews chose a spider, pig, pelican and parrot because she thought they were beautiful. Zayden Clayton chose a raccoon, fox, turtle and snake because they were easier to draw.
The idea behind the posters was a speech made by U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., about the dangers of allowing oil companies to drill in the Everglades. Teaching assistant Judy Riviere, who grew up with Nelson in the Melbourne area, plans to mail posters to be displayed in Tallahassee, Orlando and possibly other Florida cities.
“I remember when blue jays would come and eat out of my hand,” Riviere said of the environment back in the ’50s. “Six generations of my family have been involved with Florida wildlife.”
For art teacher Mimi Smith, the project also presented a learning opportunity about Florida’s wildlife. Students looked through a pile of different animal books and magazines for inspiration. Smith said many students wanted to draw penguins, ostriches and hippos before learning about the animals that inhabit the Everglades.
Snakes and turtles ended up winning the animal popularity contest among the five different grades that participated.