3rd -5th Grade South Carolina Aquarium Worksheet
Created by Aquarium staff and Aquarium Master teachers, Karey Santos and Colette Dryden

The Great Hall

Draw a line from the name of each major South Carolina region to the region's location on the map above.

Which region covers the most area in South Carolina?

Which region covers the least area in South Carolina?

What is the name of the ocean that borders South Carolina?

The Mountains
River Otter Exhibit: Watch the otters move through the water. Name three body parts that otters have that help them to survive (adaptations):

Find an example of each of the following in the mountains. Draw a picture of each and label your picture with the name of the living thing.

Producer (a living thing that can get food energy directly from the sun):

Consumer (a living thing that must eat other living things to get food energy):

Carnivore (an animal that only eats meat):

Omnivore (an animal that eats both plants and animals):

Piedmont Gallery
Piedmont Shoals and Reservoir Exhibits:
Compare and contrast the fish in the Piedmont Shoals exhibit to the fish in the Reservoir exhibit. List two ways the fish are the same and two ways the fish are different.

Similarities (ways the fish are the same)

Shifting Shorelines Exhibit:
Study the Shifting Shorelines Exhibit then explain why fossilized sharks' teeth can be found in the Coastal Plain region.

Coastal Plain Gallery
Brownwater swamp exhibit: What makes the color of Brownwater swamps brown?

Blackwater swamp exhibit: What makes the color of Blackwater swamps black?

Blackwater swamp: Study the mouth of the longnose gar. Based on its position, where in the water would you expect it to feed? On the bottom or up at the top? Explain your reasoning.

Longnose Gar:

Carolina Bay exhibit: Find a plant that catches insects for food. Do you see any insects in the plant? Why might a plant depend on insects for food?

Alligator exhibit: How do the shape of an alligator's head and the position of the eyes help it to be a successful predator?

Saltmarsh Aviary
Find one example of each of these groups of living things. Draw a picture of each one. Label each picture with the name of the living thing.

Vertebrate (an animal with a backbone):

Invertebrate (an animal without a backbone):

Plant:

Why is the saltmarsh a good home for so many different types of animals?

Coast
Loggerhead Sea Turtle Exhibit and neighboring video: Do the loggerhead sea turtles look like they can walk easily on land? What is different about them as compared to the freshwater turtles in other exhibits?

Camouflage exhibit; explain how camouflage helps animals to "hide in plain sight". Why would camouflage be an important adaptation for animals that live in the coastal region of South Carolina?

How many flounder can you find in this exhibit?

Ocean
Consider the various body shapes of fish to complete this table.

Structural adaptation - description of purpose	Animal name and sketch of body shape
This body allows the animal to dart into narrow crevasses in the reef to hide or feed.
This body allows the animal great speed and maneuverability in open water.
This body can change size and shape to discourage predators.
This body allows animal to fit into irregular spaces to hide and seek prey.

List three things you can do to protect South Carolina habitats for other living things.