Teacher Guided

Bring your students for a change of scenery and pace.  Don't forget your picnic basket, blankets and camera.

These lesson plans are for teachers conducting their own program. For the ranger-led program plans, visit the Ranger-Guided page. 

For Groups Planning an On-Site Program
Although these lessons are teacher-led, most are site-specific and you should first contact the park’s education office to be sure no other groups are scheduled for your program site (TN:865-436-1258 or NC:828-497-1942). Please download the park map to identify potential field trip locations. If staffing allows, rangers may be available to welcome your students.

 

Suggested Learning Level	Theme	Suggested Location
Kindergarten	Wildflowers NC Communities TN Communities	Chimneys Picnic Area Oconaluftee Visitor Center Sugarlands Visitor Center
First Grade	Communities Families	Cades Cove Loop Road Noah "Bud" Ogle Homesite
Second Grade	Insects and Spiders	Metcalf Bottoms Picnic Area
Third Grade	Animal Adaptations Night Skies Walker Sisters	Sugarlands Visitor Center Little Greenbriar
Fourth Grade	Trees and Forest	Newfound Gap
Seventh and Eighth Grade	Talking Tombstones	Sugarlands Visitor Center

 

FYI
If you are doing any collecting, inventorying or sampling, (such as chemical water testing, handling of organisms, or digging) you need to apply and receive a collection permit from our Resource Management and Science Division. Please allow one month for processing. If you have any questions regarding this process, please email our permit office.

Before visiting the park, please review the Frequently Asked Questions page. These common topics are worth a reminder and the park-specific details may make your trip more successful.

There is no guarantee that another group will not be utilizing the same location that you plan to visit. With the exception of picnic shelters, areas can not be reserved for the exclusive use of individual groups, therefore two or more groups may be sharing the same area. To learn more about the park's picnic areas and reservation system, visit our picnicking page

For groups planning to use these lessons without traveling to Great Smoky Mountains National Park
Many of the pre and post site lessons can be easily conducted on the school grounds or in the classroom. Some of the on-site lessons may be transferred to your area’s public lands. You may also wish to supplement your lessons with additional information from the National Park Service web site at www.nps.gov