Suggested Activities

S.C.A.L.E.

Suggestions for On-Site Activities (based on SC Curriculum Standards)

Would you like to take your class to SCALE but are not sure what you would do after you get there? Are you concerned that you can not teach everything your students need this year if you take time out to visit the site? You CAN visit SCALE AND teach our SC Curriculum Standards. The following is a list of suggested on-site activities that address the standards. It is intended as a springboard to help trigger your creativity and ideas. This is in no way considered a complete list, but a place to start. We would love to add YOUR ideas or complete lesson plans to our web site. Please send Suggestions to Lewanna Caldwell at caldwelk@spart5.k12.sc.us or fill out our online form. Please contact Tammy White at whiteth@spart5.k12.sc.us if you would like to share your lesson plan(s).

Grade (*)	Subject (*)	Activity
Kindergarten	Science	Investigate, observe, and describe living and non-living things at SCALE using the five senses. Make a class chart of things seen, heard, smelled, touched, and tasted at SCALE.
Kindergarten	Science	Collect containers of soil from different regions and compare.
Kindergarten	Science	Learn about mud while at SCALE. To observe the water-holding capacity of different soil, travel to several locations to collect soil samples. Observe these samples as they are saturated with water. Record/interpret observations.
Kindergarten	Science	Visit SCALE each season to observe changes.
Kindergarten	Science	Take a SCALE Trail walk during two different seasons. Taking clipboards and paper, have students illustrate the trees and plants on the two occasions. Have students hold up the two pictures and verbally compare/contrast them following the second visit.
Kindergarten	Social Studies	Tour SCALE locating rivers, cities, and highways to see it as a map/model of South Carolina.
Kindergarten	Math	Count to collect data. (trees in a specified area, birds, squirrels, birdhouses, benches, petals of a flower…) Make pictorial
Kindergarten	Math	Collect leaves. Sort and classify (according to color, shape, size…).
Kindergarten	Math	Take a TEXTURE walk. Look for similarities in leaves, in rocks, or in tree trunks found at the SCALE site. Classify and record findings on a class graph.
Kindergarten	Math	Look for shapes (circles, rectangles, cylinders, cubes…).
Kindergarten	Math	Compare size of two trees, two rocks, or any two objects as bigger, smaller, taller, shorter, about the same, etc.
Kindergarten	Math	Observe trees at the SCALE site. Find the tallest tree, shortest tree, smallest tree, widest trunk, widest branches etc.
Kindergarten	Math	Estimate and measure distances from one point to another using a nonstandard measure (steps, arm spans, blocks, books, shoes, hops, skips, jumps, etc.). Compare distances as shorter, longer, almost the same, and the most different.
Kindergarten	Math	Use positional words to describe locations (near, far, up, down, below, above, beside, next to, between, over, under).
Kindergarten	English/Language Arts	Listen to a story (any book OR books about nature, trees, leaves, animals, saving the earth, rocks…).
Kindergarten	English/Language Arts	Read books.
Kindergarten	English/Language Arts	Recite poems, rhymes, songs.
Kindergarten	English/Language Arts	Participate in creative dramatics.
Kindergarten	English/Language Arts	Contribute to a class chart…describe living things observed at SCALE, seasonal changes, observations of soils…
Kindergarten	English/Language Arts	Use Robert Frost’s poem entitled "Birches". Read this to the students as they sit under a tree looking upward. Have them describe/draw what they see or hear.
Kindergarten	English/Language Arts	Draw pictures about something done, seen, heard, or observed on site.
Kindergarten	English/Language Arts	Chorally read the story "I Went Walking". Following a tour of SCALE, have students use ‘I went walking’ as a prompt and write about what they have seen on their SCALE walk. Chorally read the story "I Went Walking". Following a tour of SCALE, have students use ‘I went walking’ as a prompt and write about what they have seen on their SCALE walk.
01	Science	Identify parts of plants (seeds, roots, stems, leaves, flower, fruit).
01	Science	Investigate SCALE as a plant habitat.
01	Science	Describe characteristics of plants.
01	Science	Take a SCALE Trail walk during two different seasons. Taking clipboards and paper, have students illustrate the trees and plants on the two occasions. Have students hold up the two pictures and verbally compare/contrast them following the second visit.
01	Science	While working with a partner, let each student make notes to describe the same tree, plant, or landmark. Then let the students discuss their findings with their partner. Record the final similarities/differences on a Venn diagram and summarize the results.
01	Science	Take along several science tools-magnifying lens, tripod magnifiers, big screen microscopes. Encourage students to work in pairs or small groups to investigate plants, trees, etc. as they learn to use these science tools. Encourage students to record their finding in a science journal or a field study sketchpad.
01	Science	Gather leaves from the ground at the SCALE site. Using plaster of paris in plastic coffee lid, press the leaf in to the lid to make an imprint of the leaf. Remove it before the substance forms a solid and press a paper clip into the top for use in hanging. Paint and decorate the print. Write about the type of tree from which it came.
01	Science	Collect and sort leaves (or other objects) based on a single attribute.
01	Science	Make leaf rubbings and compile a class leaf identification book.
01	Science	"Adopt a Tree" and observe it during each season.
01	Science	Go to SCALE for a seed search. Compare and sort seeds.
01	Social Studies	Tour SCALE locating rivers, cities, and highways to see it as a map/model of South Carolina.
01	Social Studies	Identify natural resources.
01	Social Studies	Have students tour the SCALE site. Working in partners or groups, have students use colored pencils to create a map of a small section of SCALE.
01	Social Studies	Take compasses to the site. Using the compass and moving in different directions talk about the directional words north, south, east and west. If appropriate, designate a location at the site and have students determine which way they will need to walk to reach it.
01	Math	Solve story problems with SCALE
01	Math	Collect and sort objects (leaves, rocks…) according to one or more attributes, including color, size, shape, texture, thickness. Record findings on a graph.
01	Math	Look for patterns.
01	Math	Measure plant growth and chart throughout the year.
01	Math	Identify three-dimensional shapes (cube, cone, cylinder, sphere, rectangular prism).
01	Math	Give directions to move from one point to another using words such as "left", "right"…
01	Math	Use positional words to identify locations on the map (next to, beside, between, across).
01	Math	Measure the length of objects found on SCALE using non-standard units, whole inches, or whole centimeters.
01	Math	Have students determine how many steps it is from one location to the next. Other objects or actions may also be used to measure distances, such as blocks, books, shoes, hops, skips, jumps. Compare which distances were the shortest, longest, almost the same, and the most different.
01	Math	Read and record the temperature using Fahrenheit thermometers.
01	Math	Create a class chart of events that are likely to occur on SCALE and a list of events that are unlikely to occur.
01	English/Language Arts	Listen to a story (any book OR books about nature, trees, leaves, animals, saving the earth, rocks…).
01	English/Language Arts	Read books.
01	English/Language Arts	Write about experiences on SCALE.
01	English/Language Arts	Use SCALE as a setting for inspiration for writing.
01	English/Language Arts	Make a class chart of words to describe the outdoor learning environment.
01	English/Language Arts	Use Robert Frost’s poem entitled "Birches". Read this to the students as they sit under a tree looking upward. Have them describe/draw what they see or hear.
01	English/Language Arts	Chorally read the story "I Went Walking." Following a tour of SCALE, have students use ‘I went walking’ as a prompt and write about what they have seen on their SCALE walk.
01	English/Language Arts	Locate plants, trees, flowers, soil, etc. at the site. Have students observe each item and use words to describe it. Have students work in partners to illustrate the plant (item) and then record the descriptive words around the
02	Science	Locate and identify animal habitats.
02	Science	Observe the birds at SCALE. Using field guides, identify the birds and draw sketches of those observed. Then label the body parts of the birds or write reports about them.
02	Science	Give students a list of birds, plants, insects, animals etc. Have them determine which of them could live in the state of South Carolina. Have the students provide reasons why an animal or plant could or could not live in a specific area.
02	Science	Measure and record weather data (temperature, precipitation, wind direction).
02	Science	Go on a scavenger hunt at SCALE. Have students work in cooperative groups to follow the clues. Clues could focus on science or geography content. For example, find a bird's nesting site.
02	Social Studies	Discuss rules for the SCALE site, purposes, and consequences.
02	Social Studies	Visit the SCALE site. Divide the class into teams. Inform the class that the district is in need of funds and has decided to sell the SCALE property. Have one group debate in favor of the decision and one against. Then have the group vote on what ‘should’ happen with the land.
02	Social Studies	Locate cities, rivers, regions, etc. Using a map of South Carolina while at SCALE, have students label the rivers, highways, cities, etc. that are found at SCALE.
02	Social Studies	Have students tour the SCALE site. Working in partners or groups, have students use colored pencils to create a map of a small section of SCALE.
02	Social Studies	Locate north, south, east and west on the site. Follow or give directions using the cardinal directions.
02	Social Studies	Using compasses, have students follow a scavenger hunt format and indicate the direction in which they must walk in order to get to the designated point.
02	Math	Compare distances between locations including words such as "closer to" and "farther than" (ex. The Congaree Swamp is closer to Columbia than to Charleston. It is farther to Charleston than to Columbia from Duncan.).
02	Math	Give directions to move from one point to another using positional words (left, right, north, south, east, west).
02	Math	Identify objects that are symmetrical. Take photos for verification.
02	Math	Identify and describe relationships among geometric shapes in the environment.
02	Math	Walk the perimeter of the site. Estimate and determine the distance in non-standard units.
02	Math	Locate the perimeter of the cities.
02	Math	Estimate and measure distances between points/locations using nonstandard units. Have students determine how many steps, hops, jumps it is from one location to the next. Objects may also be used to measure distances, such as blocks, books, shoes, etc. Compare which distances were the shortest, longest, almost the same, and the most different. Also, use standard units (metric and U.S. customary units) to measure distances on site.
02	Math	Read and record temperature.
02	Math	Collect, sort, and organize data (number of animals or insects observed, number of pine trees in a specific region…) to create charts, graphs, and tables. Use data to create story problems.
02	Math	Create a list of events that are more likely or less likely to occur on SCALE.
02	English/Language Arts	Listen to a story (any book OR books about nature, trees, animals, the environment…).
02	English/Language Arts	Listen to a speaker/presenter.
02	English/Language Arts	Read books.
02	English/Language Arts	Create and share oral stories with others.
02	English/Language Arts	Create and participate in oral dramatic activities.
02	English/Language Arts	Give directions (with three or four steps) for moving from one point/location to another.
02	English/Language Arts	Write about experiences on SCALE.
02	English/Language Arts	Use SCALE as a setting for inspiration for writing.
02	English/Language Arts	Using Robert Frost’s poem entitled ‘Birches’ have students sit under a tree looking upward and write poetry about what they see and hear.
02	English/Language Arts	After touring SCALE, write reports about trees, plants, insects or birds observed at the site.
02	English/Language Arts	Tour the SCALE site. Using riddles or clues, have the students find specific things at the site. Then have them write their own riddles/clues to locate historical sites, geographical locations, etc.
03	Science	Investigate SCALE as a habitat for plants and animals.
03	Science	Investigate changes over time (due to wind, rainwater, air, temperature).
03	Science	Observe plants on SCALE throughout the seasons. Note behavioral adaptations, such as dormancy, that allow them to respond to seasonal conditions.
03	Science	Observe and classify the trees, shrubs, and other plants. Study deciduous and coniferous trees. Learn names of plants.
03	Science	Go on a rock hunt. Observe, describe, and classify rocks found on site.
03	Science	Study the river systems of SC.
03	Science	Look for evidence of erosion and weathering.
03	Science	Study surface features of different regions of SC while touring the site…the mountains, piedmont, sand hills, and coastal plains.
03	Science	Create animal artwork of the animals from different regions of South Carolina. Write reports to accompany the illustrations and place them in the correct regions of the state.
03	Science	Investigate diversity of plants in South Carolina.
03	Science	Using a digital camera, take pictures of a variety of native plants at SCALE. After printing out the pictures, have students use a field guide to identify the plants, regions in which they are located and write a description of the plant. Students could also mount the photo of the plant and label the parts of the plant.
03	Science	Collect and describe soil samples. Study the soil composition in the different regions of South Carolina. Discuss why certain plants grow in specific regions and not in others. Using a microscope or hand lens, study a soil sample from two regions.
03	Science	Observe the birds at SCALE. Using field guides, identify the birds and draw sketches of those observed. Then label the body parts of the birds or write reports about them.
03	Science	Give students a list of birds, plants, insects, animals, etc. Have them determine which of them could live in the state of South Carolina. Have the students provide reasons why an animal or plant could or could not live in a specific area.
03	Science	Have the students work in pairs and select two different types of plants or trees. Using a double bubble map, have them compare and contrast two living things.
03	Science	While working with a partner, let each student make notes to describe the same tree, plant, or landmark. Then let the students discuss their findings with their partner. Record the final similarities/differences on a Venn diagram and summarize the results.
03	Science	Go on a scavenger hunt at SCALE. Have students work in cooperative groups to follow the clues. Clues could focus on science and/or geography content. For example, find a cedar tree near the Saluda River.
03	Science	While visiting the Myrtle Beach site at SCALE, involve the students in a discussion about the "salty" ocean. Ask, "How did the ocean get salty?" Activity: Cover a paper plate with salt. Let students predict what will happen when water is poured over the plate. Pour water over the plate. Let students observe and record what happened. (Frank Schaffer-Our Earth)
03	Science	Take along several science tools-magnifying lens, tripod magnifiers, big screen microscopes. Encourage students to work in pairs or small groups to investigate plants, rocks, trees, etc. as they learn to use these science tools. Encourage students to record their finding in a science journal or a field study sketchpad.
03	Social Studies	Tour SCALE and describe the influence of geography on the history of SC.
03	Social Studies	Locate the areas where the indigenous peoples of South Carolina lived.
03	Social Studies	Locate Revolutionary war sites.
03	Social Studies	Identify physical characteristics of the state as they are represented on SCALE.
03	Social Studies	Identify natural resources.
03	Social Studies	Locate and describe the geographical regions.
03	Social Studies	Locate cities with large populations.
03	Social Studies	Have students locate the different historical sites at SCALE. Return to school and research the sites in cooperative groups. Create a class timeline as to when the different events occurred in history.
03	Social Studies	Visit the SCALE site. Divide the class into teams. Inform the class that the district is in need of funds and has decided to sell the SCALE property. Have one group debate in favor of the decision and one against. Then have the group vote on what ‘should’ happen with the land.
03	Social Studies	Using a map of South Carolina while at SCALE, have students label the rivers, highways, cities, etc. that are found.
03	Social Studies	Using compasses, have students follow a scavenger hunt format and indicate the direction in which they must walk in order to get to the designated point.
03	Social Studies	Have a scavenger hunt to locate geographical and/or historical landmarks on SCALE. For example, find the highest point in SC, Sassafras Mountain, or locate the site of the beginning of the Civil War, Fort Sumter.
03	Social Studies	Re-enact historical occurrences at the particular location on SCALE.
03	Social Studies	Students can enjoy a "Mystery Activity" on SCALE. Tape the name of one of the SC counties on each student’s back. (Keep the county a secret from the student.) Encourage the student to ask questions about his/her county such as Am I in…Upstate? Near the ocean? Landmark city? Using these questions, the student can solve the mystery and name his/her county.
03	Social Studies	Study and locate on SCALE: the mountains, piedmont, sand hills, coastal plains, upstate, low country, midlands
03	Social Studies	Make topographical maps of SC, two and three-dimensional.
03	Social Studies	Study the cultural contributions (including arts, crafts, music and dance) of people from various regions of the state throughout South Carolina history. Locate sites of origin on the SCALE site. Engage students in a similar event on site.
03	Math	Identify patterns in nature.
03	Math	Give instructions (direction, distance, turns) for moving from one location to another.
03	Math	Locate intersecting, perpendicular, and parallel highways and rivers.
03	Math	Identify angles and compare the size with a right angle (greater than, less than, or equal to).
03	Math	Write questions about SCALE that can be investigated by collecting data.
03	Math	Collect data on the number of certain types of trees, plants, birds observed, etc. at the SCALE site. Graph the number of each living thing observed. Find the median and mode. Have the students create story problems with the data they collected.
03	Math	Identify events that are likely, unlikely, certain, or impossible to occur on SCALE.
03	Math	Measure the circumference and diameter of trees at the SCALE site. If possible, determine the height of the trees using their shadows.
03	Math	Select and use an appropriate tool/unit to measure lengths/distances. Have students estimate, then determine how many units it is from one location to the next.
03	Math	After walking the perimeter of the SCALE site, use a non-standard item of measure, estimate and determine the perimeter of SCALE.
03	Math	Estimate and measure the perimeter of cities on site.
03	English/Language Arts	Listen to a story (any book OR books about nature, trees, animals, the environment…).
03	English/Language Arts	Listen to a speaker/presenter.
03	English/Language Arts	Read books.
03	English/Language Arts	Make presentations/oral reports.
03	English/Language Arts	Write about experiences on SCALE.
03	English/Language Arts	Use SCALE as a setting for inspiration for writing.
03	English/Language Arts	Record observations for use in an oral or written report.
03	English/Language Arts	Using Robert Frost’s poem entitled ‘Birches’ have students sit under a tree looking upward and write poetry about what they see and hear.
03	English/Language Arts	After touring SCALE, write reports about native plants, historical sites, insects, birds, etc. observed and orally present the reports on the SCALE site.
03	English/Language Arts	Tour the SCALE site. Using riddles or clues, have the students find specific things at the site. Then have them write their own riddles/clues to locate historical sites, geographical locations, etc.
03	English/Language Arts	Carry out literature circles in the classroom on living things in South Carolina, historical sites, insects, plants, animals… Use the KWL chart and add to it daily as they read about the topic. Visit the site as a culminating activity.
03	English/Language Arts	Film the morning news show at the SCALE site. Take the ‘school’ on a short tour of the site or visit different locations on different days. Film the morning news show at the SCALE site. Take the ‘school’ on a short tour of the site or visit different locations on different days.
03	English/Language Arts	Have students interview grandparents or other older citizens of the community to learn of their heritage. Students write stories/reports and invite grandparents (or other older citizens) to the SCALE site for a reading of the stories and to locate places in SC that might be a part of the person's history. Have students interview grandparents or other older citizens of the community to learn of their heritage. Students write stories/reports and invite grandparents (or other older citizens) to the SCALE site for a reading of the stories and to locate places in SC that might be a part of the person's history.
03	English/Language Arts	Study and write reports about heroes or famous people of South Carolina. Present the reports on the SCALE site. Locate the place of the person's birth and other sites that were important to that person.
04	Science	Identify characteristics of the environment.
04	Science	Measure and collect daily weather data.
04	Science	Go on a scavenger hunt at SCALE. Have students work in cooperative groups to follow the clues. Clues could focus on science or geography content. For example, find a cedar tree near the Saluda River.
04	Science	Give students a list of birds, plants, insects, animals, etc. Have them determine which of them could live in the state of South Carolina. Have the students provide reasons why an animal or plant could or could not live in a specific area.
04	Social Studies	Describe unifying geographic characteristics of the regions of the state.
04	Social Studies	Visit the SCALE site. Divide the class into teams. Inform the class that the district is in need of funds and has decided to sell the SCALE property. Have one group debate in favor of the decision and one against. Then have the group vote on what ‘should’ happen with the land.
04	Math	Measure circumference, diameter, and estimated height of trees.
04	Math	Measure temperature upon arrival and departure. Determine the change.
04	Math	Have students measure how many units it is from one location to the next. Students could then convert the units into approximate miles.
04	Math	Collect data on the number of certain types of trees, plants, birds observed etc. at the SCALE site. Graph the number of each living thing observed. Have the students create story problems with the data they collected
04	Math	Estimate and measure perimeter and area of a specified location.
04	Math	After walking the perimeter of the SCALE site, have students estimate and measure the perimeter of SCALE using non-standard and standard units.
04	English/Language Arts	Listen to a story.
04	English/Language Arts	Listen to a speaker/presenter.
04	English/Language Arts	Read books.
04	English/Language Arts	Make presentations/oral reports.
04	English/Language Arts	Participate in dramatizations.
04	English/Language Arts	Write about experiences on SCALE.
04	English/Language Arts	Use SCALE as a setting for inspiration for writing.
04	English/Language Arts	Gather information for use in an oral or written report.
04	English/Language Arts	Using Robert Frost’s poem entitled ‘Birches’ have students sit under a tree looking upward and write poetry about what they see and hear.
04	English/Language Arts	After touring SCALE, write reports about native plants, historical sites, insects, birds, etc. observed and orally present the reports on the SCALE site
04	English/Language Arts	Tour the SCALE site. Using riddles or clues, have the students find specific things at the site. Then have them write their own riddles/clues to locate historical sites, geographical locations, etc.
04	English/Language Arts	Film the morning news show at the SCALE site. Take the ‘school’ on a short tour of the site or visit different locations on different days.
07	English/Language Arts	Listen to a story.
07	English/Language Arts	Read.
07	English/Language Arts	Listen to a speaker/presenter.
07	English/Language Arts	Make presentations/oral reports/dramatizations/demonstrations
07	English/Language Arts	Use SCALE as an inspiration for; analogies, similes, and metaphors. expanding vocabulary through experiences. writing poetry, essays, and technical writing. reflective writing.
07	Mathematics	Write ratios and proportions in applied situations – Project Learning Tree’s population sampling.
07	Mathematics	Use appropriate methods and tools to solve problems using fractions, decimals, and integers – What % of the above is canopy or sky? Incorporate fractions, decimals, and percents in all measuring activities and circumference.
07	Mathematics	Use proportional reasoning – compare SCALE sites to actual size, compare regions of SC with state, make a map of SCALE size using a scale.
07	Mathematics	Use a variety of representations to model and analyze relationships between the length of the radius of a circle to the area of a circle – measuring trees or using tree cookies.
07	Mathematics	Using concrete materials approximate pi from measurements of circumference and diameter – measuring trees.
07	Mathematics	Find circumference when given the diameter or radius – measuring trees or tree cookies.
07	Mathematics	Apply the Pythagorean Theorem to find the height of a tree.
07	Mathematics	Use dimensional analysis to convert from one unit of measure to another.
07	Mathematics	Approximate area of city sites.
07	Mathematics	Create and use a scatter plot for density of woods and find line of best fit.
07	Science	Use SCALE as a springboard for:
07	Science	Classify living organisms on site according to similarities using a dichotomous key.
07	Science	Analyze the basic needs and characteristics of living things.
07	Science	Compare and contrast how organisms use resources.
07	Science	Describe and distinguish between populations, communities, habitats, niches, ecosystems and biomes.
07	Science	Analyze the role of producers, consumers, and decomposers.
07	Science	Analyze flow of food chain.
07	Science	Analyze the effects of overpopulation within an ecosystem on the amount of resources available.
07	Science	Distinguish among weathering, erosion, and deposition.
07	Science	Examine physical weathering and chemical weathering on rocks.
07	Science	Investigate and examine how weathering, erosion, deposition, and human impact changes the landscape.
07	Science	Analyze soil properties that can be observed.
07	Science	Evaluate ways human activities effect soil.
07	Science	Use SC Maps on site to analyze drainage basins.
08	History	Tour SCALE and explain the influence of physical geography on SC History.
08	History	Locate the areas where early European settlements were.
08	History	Locate Revolutionary war sites and write about their contributions.
08	History	Locate Civil War sites and write about causes, course, and its effect on the people. Use SC maps to analyze distribution
08	History	Use SC maps to analyze distribution of physical features and compare at SCALE site.
08	History	Locate and layout the drainage patterns and/or regions of SC.
9-10	English	Write a visitor’s guide for the SCALE site including directions to each of the features on the site and a brief description of those features.
9-10	Math/PE	Determine the longest distance you could walk on the SCALE paths without backtracking or using the same section of path twice.
10	Biology	Identify native plants on the SCALE site by region and research why specific plants are found where they are.
10-11	Biology	Have students create a plant scavenger hunt to be used by younger students.
9-12	Math	Use maps and the distances on the SCALE site to calculate the scale of the SCALE site compared to the map and the real world.
12	Government/Economics	Use SC state maps and observations at the SCALE site to evaluate why cities are located where they are. Use SC state maps and observations at the SCALE site to evaluate why cities are located where they are.

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