• Approximately 1,500 black bears live in the national park.

    Great Smoky Mountains

    National Park NC,TN

Curriculum Materials

Parks as Classrooms

Parks As Classrooms is the park's educational program that provides outdoor, hands-on learning experiences for students in grades K-12. These curriculum-based, interdisciplinary lessons weave together Great Smoky Mountain themes with Tennessee and North Carolina curriculum objectives. 

Ranger-Guided program materials
These programs are led by park staff and require the coordinating teacher to contact the park and register for the program. Program packets contain pre and post-visit lessons.

Teacher-Guided program materials
These materials are designed to give the teacher adaquate background to lead their classes on an in-park tour and program. Many of these lessons can also be applied to studies and activities conducted on the school grounds or in other out-of-park locations.

Videos
The park offers many relevant videos for your class on topics such as climate change, salamanders, white-nose syndrome in bats and others.

Electronic Field Trip
Highlighting the amazing biological diversity in Great Smoky Mountains National Park, students can watch as Park Rangers and a group of middle school students collect information on salamanders, aquatic insects and microscopic Waterbears. Along with the video are seven modules containing exciting games, podcasts and lesson plans.

Science Dispatches from the Field
Stay up to date on the latest science occurring in Great Smoky Mountains National Park.

Internet Databases
Ask questions of data collected by students on studies including salamanders, terrestrial insects, water quality and air pollution effects. Create your own original questions or use the teacher resource guides.

Teacher's Guide to the National Park Service
Your National Parks are a wealth of curriculum-based experiences, aligned with local, state or national standards of learning. Check this site for fantastic learning opportunities for you and your students, inside the classroom and in the parks.

Teacher's guide to WebRangers
Quickly assess more than 50 WebRangers activities and discover how each activity meets National Standards of Learning. You can read a brief description of each activity and understand how each activity addresses a breadth of subjects.

  • field trip reservation and travel grant forms field trip reservation and travel grant forms

    Download a form and send it in to book a field trip Read More »

  • Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center Appalachian Highlands Science Learning Center

    Promoting research and science education Read More »

  • Plan your fieldtrip Plan your fieldtrip

    A great field trip begins with good planning. Read More »

  • Frequently asked questions Frequently asked questions

    Common questions and answers about our education programs to help you plan your field trip. Read More »

Did You Know?

Marbled salamanders are one of 30 salamander species native to the park.

There are at least 30 different species of salamanders in Great Smoky Mountains National Park. This gives the Smokies the distinction of having the most diverse salamander population anywhere in the world and has earned the park the nickname “Salamander Capital of the World.”