The Great Water Odyssey^SM may involve high-flying antics and alligator encounters, but no safety equipment is needed — just a computer with a CD drive or port for a jump drive.

Educators begin by attending a workshop and getting the materials — all free of charge for educators within the St. Johns River Water Management District. After attending a workshop, educators receive all of the necessary components, including the grade-specific curriculum, a comprehensive educator’s manual with additional exercises and reading materials.

Educators then guide their students through one adventure after another. Each module starts with an animated story that follows waterdrops Hydro and Agua through the town of Olliewood. They are turned into a solid, a liquid and a gas. They float down Florida’s streams. They travel back to the time before the founding of Florida. They flow through the aquifer. They even help Olliewood and its residents plan for the future through water conservation and waterwise landscaping.

Each animated learning module is followed by an interactive exploration screen, where students earn points by exploring a scene that reinforces the lesson. Students click their way through a map of Florida, the natural ecosystems, the human body, Alice the Alligator’s kitchen, an aquifer, a farm and a garden. Learning continues along the way.

Gamelike quizzes follow every module to test how much students have learned. Students must pass the quizzes to unlock the games. With names like Raleigh Otter’s Dance Party and Fish Chomp, the games continue to teach through enjoyment.

Each grade-level curriculum — third, fourth and fifth — has several modules. Each grade level has its own story, quest or challenges, unique games, animation and exploration screens.