Pre-Visit Activities : Water Quality : Resources Sixth - Eighth Grade Online Curriculum : Watersheds

Teacher Reference Books
Kovacik, Charles F. and John J. Winberry. South Carolina: the Making of a Landscape, University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, 1989.
This wonderful reference book provides information on the abiotic factors that determine the habitats of South Carolina.

Murphy, Carolyn Hanna. Carolina Rocks!: The Geology of South Carolina, Sandlapper Publishing Co., Inc., Orangeburg, 1995.
Information on the geology, topography and formation of all of the regions in South Carolina.

Plummer, Charles C. and David McGeary. Physical Geology, Wm. C. Brown Publishers, Iowa, 1991.
Though admittedly college textbooks are often a little too dry and in-depth, with their text, photographs and illustrations they are often the best resources for finding information on a particular subject. This college textbook is an excellent resource for anyone wanting to know more about geology.

Watercourse Publications: Discover Ground Water & Springs, Conserve Water, Big Rivers, and the Water Story, The Watercourse, Montana.
These publications provide information and games on a variety of topics. For additional information visit www.montana.edu/wwwwater

Top

Teacher Reference Websites
Chesapeake Bay Foundation Environmental Education
http://www.cbf.org/education/index.htm
The Chesapeake Bay Foundation has put together an exemplary watershed protection program that encompasses many states. This site includes information on what they have done in this program as well as curricula and other education related items.

EPA’S Environmental Education Center
www.epa.gov/teacher
Provides information on water and watersheds and links to other sites.

EPA Office of Water: Office of Wetlands, Oceans and Watersheds
www.epa.gov/owow/
Provides information on watersheds, wetlands, water quality plus much more.

Project WET: Water Education for Teachers
www.montana.edu/wwwwet/
This is the home page for Project WET. Visit this site for on-line information and activities.

South Carolina Department of Health and Environmental Control: Bureau of Water
www.scdhec.net/water
This site offers information on drinking water, water pollution control, watersheds plus much more.

Southern Appalachian Watershed Conservation Clearinghouse
http://sunsite.utk.edu/samab/proj/watershed.html
This site offers links to a number of websites related to watershed conservation in the Southeastern United States.

Surf Your Watershed: A Service to Help You Locate, Use, and Share Environmental Information About Your Place
www.epa.gov/surf
This site allows you to learn specific information related to the watershed your town is located in.

U.S. Geological Survey
www.usgs.gov/
This site offers valuable earth science information on a variety of topics.

Water Science for Schools
http://ga.water.usgs.gov/edu/
Background information on water and watersheds is provided on this site.

Top

Student Reference Books
Cone, Molly. Come Back, Salmon, Sierra Club Books for Children, San Francisco, 1992.
Learn how the students of Jackson Elementary School in Everett, Washington, cleaned a nearby stream, stocked it with salmon and protected it from pollution.

Student Fiction Books
Cherry, Lynne. A River Ran Wild, Gulliver Books/HBJ, San Diego, California,1992.
Follow the environmental history of the Nashua River, from its discovery to present day. Learn how it was polluted during the Industrial Revolution but has since been cleaned.

Curricula
Aquatic Project WILD
Aquatic Project WILD is an interdisciplinary curriculum for K-12 teachers on aquatic wildlife and ecosystems. The activities cover a broad range of environmental and conservation topics. For information on signing up for workshops, call the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources at (803) 734-3814.
For more information click on:
www.dnr.state.sc.us/cec/educate/edu1.html#teacher

JASON Project
The JASON Project is an interdisciplinary curriculum for K-12 teachers focusing on the geology, climate, biology and biodiversity of specific regions in the world. The activities cover a broad range of topics. For information on signing up for workshops, call Karen Talbert at (803) 738-1876.
For more information click on www.jasonproject.org

Project WET
Project WET is an interdisciplinary curriculum for K-12 teachers on water. The activities cover a wide range of water-related topics. For information on signing up for workshops, call the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources at (803) 737-0808.
For more information visit the website at www.montana.edu/wwwwet

SC MAPS
SC MAPS is a standards-based interdisciplinary curriculum for middle school teachers that focus on the geology of the five regions of South Carolina using aerial photographs, images and topographic maps. For information on signing up for workshops call (864) 656-1560.
For more information visit the website at www.ces.clemson.edu/scmaps

Field Trip Sites
South Carolina's Ecoregions
Each of South Carolina's ecoregions contains many parks and preserved land that make watersheds and landforms accessible to school groups. Below is listed one example from each region.

Mountains
Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area (Jones Gap and Caesars Head State Natural Areas) - The Mountain Bridge Wilderness Area covers more than 10,000 acres of exceptional mountain habitat including Jones Gap and Caesars Head state parks. Education at this site strives to foster an understanding and appreciation of the Mountain Bridge, the Southern Appalachian Mountains and the Blue Ridge Escarpment. Through expert instruction and hands-on field experiences, students can investigate the ecology, hydrology and geology of the area. (Greenville County - Caesars Head 864.836.6115; Jones Gap 864.836.3647)

Piedmont
Landsford Canal State Park – Offers teachers activities to use to guide their students investigations of the unique natural communities found in and near the rocky shoals of the Catawba River. Students will explore uniquely adapted plants and animals while investigating the geology and natural communities found in this area of the Catawba River. (Chester and Lancaster counties - 803.789.5800)

Sandhills
Sandhills State Forest – Located near Cheraw, this state forest showcases the wildlife communities that have developed on land that once were prehistoric sand dunes. Though the forest does not have structured education programs available, arrangements can be made for foresters to speak with school groups. The forest is open seven days a week. For more information call (843) 498-6478 or click on www.state.sc.us/forest.

Coastal Plain
Cypress Gardens – Cypress Gardens is a preserved blackwater swamp habitat located between Goose Creek and Moncks Corner. Trails, boats, a butterfly garden and freshwater aquariums can all be found here. The garden is opened seven days a week and offers environmental education programs for school groups. For more information call (843) 553-0515.

Coast
ACE Basin National Estuarine Research Reserve – This reserve, located between Edisto Beach and Hunting Island, contains 12,000 acres of tidal marshes and estuarine waters. The area is rich in wildlife: fish, crustaceans, birds and even mammals can all be found here. Boat tours are available through this area for high school and college students. For more information call (843) 762-5032.

Ocean
Huntington Beach State Park – With its marshes, maritime forest and beach, the educational focus of Huntington Beach will foster understanding of how natural communities are interdependent on each other and dependent on us. To protect our natural heritage, we must learn that we are part of, not apart from, the natural world. Through observation and hands-on activities, students gain an understanding of the importance of the resources found on this park and enhance their appreciation of environmental issues facing their own communities. (Georgetown County - 843.237.4440)