Tennessee Middle School

These opportunities for 6th, 7th and 8th grades challenge students with hands-on learning experiences in the park's cultural and natural resources, including critical issues affecting these resources. Each program was developed in cooperation with Tennessee middle school teachers and are correlated with state and national curriculum standards with an emphasis on science and social studies.
For a complete listing of Tennessee middle school programs and the corresponding middle school standards, please download our program flyer.

Program title	Location	Season
Park Management Classroom	Cades Cove	Fall/Spring
Soil Exploration Classroom	Twin Creeks	Fall/Spring
Dig This- Archeology Classroom	Cades Cove and Cosby Campground	Fall/Spring
The Smokies Rocks Classroom	Look Rock	Fall/Spring
The New Deal Classroom	Sugarlands Visitor Center	Fall/Spring
Stream Scientists Classroom	Sugarlands Visitor Center	Fall/Spring
Biodiversity Classroom	Twin Creeks	Fall/Spring

To register for one of these programs, please fill out the registration form and email it, fax it to [phone] or mail it to:
Education Office
Great Smoky Mountains National Park
107 Park HQ Rd.
Gatlinburg, TN 37738
To reach us by phone, call 865-436-1713

 

Park Management Classroom 
Students role play park constituents as they debate current issues facing this treasured resource. This program takes students on a memorable seven mile bicycle trip around a portion of the Cades Cove loop road. This program does require a $5.00 bike rental fee.
Location: Cades Cove

Lesson Plan (371 kb .pdf)
 

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Soil Exploration Classroom
Students inventory the macroinvertebrates of the deciduous forest using scientific methods. In small teams, the class will analyze soil properties and recognize the interdependence of abiotic and biotic factors.
Location: Twin Creeks Science and Education Center, near Gatlinburg

Lesson plan (400 kb .pdf)

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Dig This! Archaeology and Resource Management Classroom
Students learn how park archaeologists continually learn about historic and pre-historic cultures. Students participate in methods and techniques for discovering, cataloging and preserving artifacts.
Locations: Cades Cove, Cosby Campground

Lesson plan (793 kb .pdf)

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The Smokies Rocks! Classroom
Students will hike to a scenic view to explore the Smokies geology and its impacts on local geography. Maps, compasses and GPS units are used.
Location: Look Rock in Blount County

Lesson Plan (375 kb .pdf)

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The New Deal Classroom
Students will hike 4 miles round trip to explore the remaining clues of a Civilian Conservation Corps Camp. The role of the Smokies during the country's time of crisis will be discussed. Call the park to discuss options for students with limited physical abilities.
Location: Trailhead is near Sugarlands Visitor Center

Lesson plan (408 kb .pdf)

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Stream Scientist Classroom
Students will create a hypothesis on the health of a river system. Procedures for testing the hypothesis include water quality tests in small working groups, identification of point and non-point pollution sources as well as a benthic macroinvertebrate search using scientific methods.
Location: Sugarlands Visitor Center

Lesson plan (594 kb .pdf)

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Biodiversity Classroom
Students will generate and test a hypothesis to guide their examination of biodiversity in different park ecosystems. Examination methods include setting up a ground plot, using microscopes, and classifying organisms.
Location: Twin Creeks Science and Education Center, near Gatlinburg

Lesson plan (355 kb .pdf) 

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