Curriculum Materials

The Natchez Trace Parkway is a diverse blend of history, environment, and recreation. Its thousands of years of human history began with travelers who pre-dated the mound builders, and continues on through 20th century public works projects. The Trace contains diverse environmental features ranging from mixed hardwood forests on foothills, to prairie and swamps. The 444-mile corridor provides opportunities for a vast variety of outdoor recreational experiences. Our educational program reflects the diversity of the Trace and provides educational experiences that engage students and inspire learning.

We are currently updating our pages, so please be patient with our progress and check back as our lessons become searchable. Links to lesson plans are below and also at the bottom of the For Teachers page.

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Showing results 11-20 of 51

Cop a Gig for the Trace

This lesson plan inspires community service projects associated with the Natchez Trace Parkway and National Scenic Trails. It raises awareness of the national parkway that runs through Mississippi, Alabama and Tennessee. National Parks have limited avenues to raise awareness and teach people about their national treasures. Students will produce community service media projects about some aspect of the Natchez Trace Parkway and its National Scenic Trail. This is a highly variable lesson plan.

Type:

Lesson Plans

Grade level:
First Grade-Graduate Level (Masters, PhD)

Subjects:
Art, Community, Language Arts, Leadership, Museum Studies, Service Learning

National/State Standards:
These will vary with the subject matter being addressed. Besides community awareness, subject areas covered could include animals, plants, history, American Indians, Natchez Trace Parkway, Mississippi Studies, art, and music.
Trail Mapping

Explain to students that they will be mapping a trail in the forest using a map grid and compass. Hand out the map grid worksheet.

Type:

Lesson Plans

Grade level:
Fourth Grade

Subjects:
History, Social Studies

National/State Standards:
Social Studies: 3)Demonstrate the ability to use social studies tools 3a,3b,3c,3d,3e,3f,3h
So What is the Natchez Trace Parkway?

This lesson will teach students about how the Natchez Trace Parkway and the Natchez Trace Scenic trails relate to the National Park Service, through class discussion and review worksheet. This lesson will introduce students to the concept of the National Park Service the government unit behind the existence of the Natchez Trace Parkway and the associated National Scenic Trails. Students will participate in class discussion through an informal presentation and complete a related worksheet.

Type:

Lesson Plans

Grade level:
Ninth Grade-Twelfth Grade

Subjects:
Government, History, Physical Education

National/State Standards:
MS-US Government: 1d, 4d, 6, 6a
Trace Trekking Game

Explain to students that they will be developing and then playing their very own classroom size game. They will be learning about the hazards encountered by people traveling the Natchez Trace during the 1800’s. This is an excellent fun review of a study of the old-southwest Mississippi territory history in 1700-1800, especially concerning the Natchez Trace Parkway.

Type:

Lesson Plans

Grade level:
Fourth Grade

Subjects:
History

National/State Standards:
History: 1, 3, 4, 5)
Talk about the Trail

The students may do this as a part of an extended field trip to the Natchez Trace Parkway. The students will walk on a short trail like the Cypress Swamp. The students will write about and illustrate an element of their experience using the attached prompt sheet.

Type:

Lesson Plans

Grade level:
Third Grade

Subjects:
Biology: Animals, Biology: Plants

National/State Standards:
Language Arts: 3, 3b, 4
Scenic Trail Discovery Hike

Students will walk a trail and record information from observations. They will investigate the different living and non-living elements that make up one section of their local environment. The purpose of this lesson is three-fold. First students will make observations in a natural setting. Second they will learn to recognize diversity in one area of a trail. Third, they will be encouraged to think about why it is important to protect natural areas.

Type:

Lesson Plans

Grade level:
Ninth Grade-Twelfth Grade

Subjects:
Biology: Animals, Biology: Plants, Environment

National/State Standards:
Intro to Bio: 3a, 3b, 3c Biology 1: 3, 3a, 3b, 3c Botany: 2, 2b, 2c, 2d, 2e, 3, 3a, 3b, 3e, 4, 4a, 4d Environmental Science: 2c, 2d, 2e, 2f, 3a, 3b, 3c
Role Playing on the Natchez Trace Parkway

The teacher will orient the students with an official map of the Natchez Trace Parkway. Prior to playing the game, the teacher will need to obtain “flags” and write character assignments on slips of paper. The students should keep their characters secret. In the flag-football type game, the students will role-play boatmen, American Indians, outlaws, and bears. The slips of paper will also tell students whose flags they may take. The students will draw the names from a “hat”.

Type:

Lesson Plans

Grade level:
Third Grade-Fourth Grade

Subjects:
Social Studies, Writing

National/State Standards:
Third Grade: Social Studies: 3, 3b, 3c Language Arts: 3, 3b, 4 Fourth Grade: Social Studies: 3, 3a, 3d Language Arts: 3, 3b, 4
Lost on the Trace

The students will be divided into pairs and they will pretend they are “Lost on the Trace”. They will be racing against each other to reach their destination by following the directions on a card.

Type:

Lesson Plans

Grade level:
Fourth Grade

Subjects:
Geography, Social Studies

National/State Standards:
1,3e, 3h
The Kaintucks

Students will play a game that is integrated with a lesson of some of the first travelers of the Natchez Trace. The students will learn of travelers of the Natchez Trace called “Kaintucks” and play a game incorporated with what they have learned.

Type:

Lesson Plans

Grade level:
Third Grade-Fifth Grade

Subjects:
Physical Education

National/State Standards:
MS Objectives: 3rd Grade- 1c, 2a, 3a, 5a, 5b, 5c, 5d, 6b. 4th Grade- 5a, 5b, 6a, 6b, 6c. 5th Grade- 1c, 5a,. 5b, 5d, 5e, 6b, 6c
Fire Safety

Students will learn about fire safety and play a game that is integrated with knowledge they have learned. The students will learn basic practices of fire safety and be aware of the Fire Management Division of the Natchez Trace Parkway. They will also play a game that involves teamwork, body fitness, and space awareness.

Type:

Lesson Plans

Grade level:
Kindergarten-Second Grade

Subjects:
Fire Safety, Health, Physical Education, Physical Fitness

National/State Standards:
Kindergarten- 1a, 1c, 2a, 2b, 4a, 5a, 5b. 1st Grade- 1a, 2a, 2b,4b, 5c,5d. 2nd Grade- 1a, 2b, 5a, 5c, 6a.