Lesson Plan

What Makes the Great Smokies Great: Field Trip Post-Site - Grade 3 (North Carolina)

A ranger introduces activities for the day.
A ranger introduces activities for the day.

NPS Photo

Grade Level:
Second Grade-Fourth Grade
Subject:
Biodiversity, Ecology
Duration:
30 minutes
Group Size:
Up to 60
Setting:
classroom
National/State Standards:
SCIENCE
3.L.2.1
3.L.2.2
3.L.2.3
3.L.2.4
Keywords:
national park service, park ranger, web ranger, Junior Ranger

Overview

The Great Smoky Mountains are world renowned for their diversity of plant and animal species. This great variety makes the park an exemplary outdoor laboratory for the study of relatively undisturbed native flora, fauna, physical environs, and processes of the Southern Appalachians.

This unit is broken into three parts. The overall unit involves a trip to the park and is accompanied by one preparation activity and one wrap-up activity.  This is the wrap up activity of the unit. 

Objective(s)

1. To teach students about the various aspects of the National Park Service.

Background

The park is the largest federally preserved\and protected upland area east of the Mississippi River offering park visitors a refuge from the stresses of everyday life. You and your students can learn more about this special place of the National Park Service and other federally protected lands.

Teachers coming on the accompanying field trip should download our complete field trip packet that includes all of the lessons: What Makes the Great Smokies Great pre-site lesson, information and directions about the field trip and What Makes the Great Smokies Great Wrap-up post site lesson.

Download the full What Makes the Great Smokies Great Field Trip packet (includes Preparation and Wrap-up lessons).

Materials

This lesson includes instructions on how to become a Web Ranger and a Pre and Post Site Test.

Procedure

Assessment

Administer a pre and post site test that is included in the unit.

Park Connections

Becoming a junior ranger is a wonderful way to get involved with the park and help protect all the amazing resources of the park.

Vocabulary

National Park Service, Junior Ranger

Last updated: April 14, 2015