Wild Wonderful Water. South Mountains State Park: An Environmental Education Learning Experience Designed for Grades 4-5.

This curriculum packet was developed to provide environmental education through a series of hands-on activities for the classroom and the outdoor setting of South Mountains State Park, North Carolina. Targeted for grades 4 through 7, this packet meets the established curriculum objectives of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction. Students are exposed to major concepts such as water quality, indicator species, stewardship of natural resources, watersheds, natural resource management, the Jacob's Fork River, river basins, riparian areas, and water pollution (point and nonpoint sources). The packet is divided into eight sections: (1) introduction to the North Carolina State Parks system, South Mountains State Park, and the activity packet; (2) activity summary and correlation chart showing how each activity correlates with Department of Public Instruction objectives; (3) pre-visit activities; (4) on-site activities; (5) post-visit activities; (6) vocabulary; (7) references; and (8) a scheduling worksheet, permission form, and program evaluation form. Each set of activities is comprised of three activities. The first activity includes curriculum objectives for grade levels 4-5. The second and third activities list learning skills and subject areas covered. All activities contain descriptions of location, group size, estimated time needed, appropriate season, materials needed, major concepts covered, and activity objectives, as well as background information for the educator, instructions, and worksheets. Most activities also include extensions, assessment tools, and student information sheets. (PVD)