Pre-Visit Activities : Sculpting South Carolina : Resources Third - Fifth Grade Online Curriculum : Communities

Teacher Reference Books
Barry, John M. Natural Vegetation of South Carolina, University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, 1980.
A look at the vegetation communities of each of the regions of South Carolina and the abiotic factors that influence them.

Bennett, Stephen H. and Thomas M. Poland. South Carolina: The Natural Heritage, University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, 1989.
A look at the biotic and abiotic features of all of the regions of South Carolina.

Blagden, Jr., Tom. South Carolina's Wetland Wilderness: The ACE Basin, Westcliffe Publishers, Inc., Englewood, Colorado, 1992.
A book of beautiful photography of the ACE Basin in the Coast and Coastal Plain regions of South Carolina as well as information on these regions.

Blagden, Jr., Tom and Thomas Wyche. South Carolina's Mountain Wilderness: The Blue Ridge Escarpment, Westcliffe Publishers, Inc., Englewood, Colorado, 1994.
A book of beautiful photography of the Mountain region of South Carolina as well as information on this region.

Edgar, Walter. South Carolina: A History, University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, 1998.
A comprehensive history of the state of South Carolina, which shows how the different regions of the state affected the human communities that developed there.

Godfrey, Michael A. Field Guide to the Piedmont, The University of North Carolina Press, Chapel Hill, NC, 1997.
A look at the characteristics and wildlife communities of the Piedmont region that stretches from New York through South Carolina to Alabama.

Plummer, Charles C. and David McGeary. Physical Geology, Wm. C. Brown Publishers, Dubuque, IA, 1991.
This college textbook explains the geologic processes that have created the different landscapes of the different regions of South Carolina as well as other places in the world.

Keener-Chavis, Paula and Leslie Reynolds Sautter. Of Sand and Sea: Teachings From the Southeastern Shoreline, SC Sea Grant Consortium, Charleston, 2000.
An excellent look at the biotic and abiotic factors that characterize the Coast and Ocean regions of South Carolina. (Copies of this book may be obtained from the Charleston Math & Science Hub, 66 George Street, Charleston, SC 29424).

Kovacik, Charles F.  and John J.Winberry. South Carolina:  The Making Of a Landscape,  University of South Carolina Press, Columbia, 1987.
Information on the geology, ecology and cultural history of the different landforms and regions of South Carolina.

Meyer, Peter. Nature Guide to the Carolina Coast, Avian-Cetacean Press, Wilmington, NC, 1998. 
An informative look at the characteristics and wildlife of the Coast and Ocean regions of South and North 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.

Ricklefs, Robert E. and Gary L. Miller. Ecology, W.H. Freeman Company, 1999.
This college textbook is a great resource for finding out how wildlife communities interact with each other as well as the abiotic factors of their environment. 

South Carolina Wildlife magazine, published by the South Carolina Department of Natural Resources.
This award-winning magazine regularly features articles and photography on the habitats and wildlife of all of the regions of South Carolina.

Teal, John and Mildred. Life and Death of the Salt Marsh, Ballantine Books, New York, 1969.
An in-depth look at the characteristics and organisms found in the salt marshes of the Coast region.  

Weidensaul, Scott. Mountains of the Heart: A Natural History of the Appalachians, Fulcrum Publishing, Golden, Colorado, 1994.
An in-depth look at the biotic and abiotic features of the mountain range that intersects South Carolina to form its mountain region.

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Teacher Reference Websites
The Learning Network
http://www.factmonster.com/ce6/us/A0861200.html
"Fact Monster!" information page on South Carolina Geography. great for kids!

Nature Scene
http://www.picketfence.com/naturescene/Congaree/landforms.html
Information on land forms, climate, and geography in the Congaree Swamp region of South Carolina.

South Carolina Department of Natural Resources
http://www.dnr.state.sc.us/
Information on the wildlife and geology of all of South Carolina. 

South Carolina Geographic Alliance
http://www.cla.sc.edu/cege/scgamain/scga.html
Follow the "Create SC Maps" link to create thematic maps for all grade levels! 

 South Carolina's Information Highway
http://sciway.net/weather/
Links to South Carolina's weather, tides, and natural disasters.  Shows how landforms can affect weather in the state.  Also has a hurricane tracking link.

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Student Reference Books
Clifford, Dr. Nick. Incredible Earth, DK Publishing, Inc., New York, 1996.
An amazing book that uses illustrations, photographs and text to show how various natural processes have shaped the Earth.

Duncan, Beverly K. Explore the Wild, HarperCollins Publishers, New York, 1996.
Children examine illustrations of different environments found in North America to search for the organisms that make up the environment's wildlife community. Includes information on each organism in the community.

Eyewitness Books: Pond & River, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, New York, 1988.
This book uses photographs, illustrations and text to teach the reader about the plants and animals that make freshwater habitats their home.

Eyewitness Books: Ocean, Alfred A. Knopf, Inc, New York, 1995.
This book uses photographs, illustrations and text to teach the reader about the plants and animals that make ocean habitats their home.

Hoffman, Nancy. Celebrate the States: South Carolina, Benchmark Books, New York, 2001.
A children's book on the history and culture of South Carolina as well as sections on the geography and wildlife of the region of the state.

Kent, Deborah. America the Beautiful: South Carolina, Children's Press, Danbury, CT, 1990.
A children's book on the history and culture of South Carolina as well as sections on the geography and wildlife of the region of the state.

Look Closer: Swamp Life, Dorling Kindersley, New York, 1993.
Using photographs, illustrations and text this book teaches the reader about the plants and animals that live in swamps.

Matthews, Downs. Wetlands, Simon & Schuster Books, New York, 1994.
This book describes different types of wetlands and the plants and animals found there.

Redfern, Martin. The Kingfisher Young People's Book of Planet Earth. Kingfisher Publications, New York, 1999.
Another amazingly illustrated book that looks at the geology and natural history of Earth.

Simon, Seymour. Mountains, Morrow Junior Books, New York, 1994.
This book uses photographs and text to describe many aspects of the Mountains.

Smithey, William K. American Coastlines: The Beauty of America's Natural Habitat, Gallery Books, New York, 1990.
An introduction to habitats from the Pacific Ocean to the Atlantic Ocean, this book uses text and photographs to introduce students to the coastlines of America.

Taylor, Barbara. Earth Explained: A Beginner's Guide To Our Planet, Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1997.
This is a wonderfully illustrated reference book for young reader's on many aspects of the Earth's geology, climate and oceanography.

Waterlow, Julia. The Atlantic Ocean, Raintree Steck-Vaughan Publishers, Austin, TX, 1997.
This book uses photographs and text to describe many aspects of the Atlantic Ocean.

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Student Fiction Books
George, Jean Craighead. My Side of the Mountain, Puffin Books, New York, 1959.
A boy from New York City runs away to live by himself in the Catskill Mountains and must learn to survive in this environment.

Hite, Sid. It's Nothing to a Mountain, Henry Holt and Company, New York, 1994.
A story of two children learning to live in the environment of the Blue Ridge Mountains of Virginia.

O'Dell, Scott. Island of the Blue Dolphins, Bantam Doubleday Dell Books, New York, 1960.
A girl is left behind on an island in the Pacific and must learn how to survive in this ocean environment.

Paulsen, Gary. The River, Delacorte Press, New York, 1991.
The story of a boy trapped on a remote river who must learn to survive from the river environment.

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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

Project WILD
Project WILD is an interdisciplinary curriculum for K-12 teachers on 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

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Field Trip Sites
South Carolina's Ecoregions
Each of South Carolina's ecoregions contains many parks and preserved land that make characteristic wildlife communities 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. For more information call Caesars Head at (864) 836-6115 or Jones Gap at (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. For more information call (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 open 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. For more information call (843) 237-4440.

If you are aware of other books, videos, websites, curricula, fieldtrip destinations or other materials that would make excellent resources for this activity, please e-mail them to us for inclusion in this list at: Education@scaquarium.org