DOCUMENT RESUME ED 425 915 SE 061 912 AUTHOR Bradley, Jack L., Jr.; Beazley, Lea J.; Cook, Carrie TITLE Alpine Forest. Mount Mitchell State Park: An Environmental Education Learning Experience Designed for Grades4-6. INSTITUTION North Carolina State Dept. of Environment, Health, and Natural Resources, Raleigh. Div. of Parks and Recreation. PUB DATE 1997-12-00 NOTE 103p.; Revised edition of ED 378 046. For other documents in the series, see SE 061 913-914. AVAILABLE FROM North Carolina Division of Parks and Recreation, P.O. Box 27687, Raleigh, NC 27611-7687. PUB TYPE Guides Classroom Teacher (052) EDRS PRICE MF01/PC05 Plus Postage. DESCRIPTORS Activity Units; Conservation Education; Curriculum Guides; *Ecology; *Environmental Education; Field Trips; *Forestry; Group Activities; Hands on Science; Instructional Materials; Intermediate Grades; Natural Resources; *Outdoor Education; Science Education; *Trees IDENTIFIERS *North Carolina; *State Parks; Stewardship ABSTRACT This curriculum packet was developed to provide environmental education through a series of hands-on activities for the classroom and the outdoor setting of Mount Mitchell State Park, North Carolina. Designed for grades 3 through 6, the packet meets established curriculum objectives of the North Carolina Department of Public Instruction's Standard Course of Study. Studentsare exposed to major concepts such as spruce-fir forest ecosystems, tree anatomy and physiology, limiting factors and spruce-fir forest decline, decomposition, interdependence of plants and animals, preservation of naturalareas, and stewardship of natural resources. The packet is divided into eightsections: (1) introduction to the North Carolina State Parks system,Mount Mitchell 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. Eachset of activities is comprised of three activities. The first activityincludes curriculum objectives for grade levels 4-6. The second and thirdactivities 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) ******************************************************************************** * Reproductions supplied by EDRS are the best thatcan be made * * from the original document. * ******************************************************************************** ALPIN U.S. DEPARTMENT OF EDUCATION Office of Educational Research and Improvement EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES INFORMATION PERMISSION TO REPRODUCE AND ,s,)CENTER (ERIC) DISSEMINATE THIS MATERIAL HAS Jis docum ent has been reproduced as BEEN GRANT D BY received from the person or organization originating it. 0 Minor changes have been made to improve reproduction quality. Points of view or opinions stated in this TO THE EDUCATIONAL RESOURCES document do not necessarily represent official OERI position or policy. %INFORMATION CENTER (ERIC) 1 Mount Mitchell State Park ,..An.Environmental EduCation Learning Experience: Designed for Cirades.4:6 BEST COPY AVAILABLE 9 "In the end, we will conserve only whatwe love; we will love only u)hat we understand; d we will understand only whatwe are taught." Senegalese conservationist Baba Diourn 3 1 Funding for the original printing of this Environmental Education Learning Experience was contributed by C P&L This Environmental Education Learning Experience was developed by Jack L. Bradley, Jr. Lead Interpretation and Education Ranger, Mount Mitchell State Park Lea J. Beazley Interpretation and Education Specialist North Carolina State Parks and Ms. Carrie Cook Intern, East Carolina University N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation Department of Environment and Natural Resources AVA NCDENR James B. Hunt, Jr. Wayne McDevitt Governor Secretary Mount Mitchell State Park wishes to acknowledge the following individuals whose efforts made this Environmental Education Learning Experience possible: Ms. Gwen Diehn, Professor, Warren Wilson College; Ms. Carrie Wittmer, National Audubon Expedition Group; Ms. Gwen Foor, National Audubon Expedition Group; Mr. Roger Lacy, National Audubon Expedition Group; Ms. Caroline Roesler, National Audubon Expedition Group; Ms. Monica Bosworth, National Audubon Expedition Group; Dr. Harriett S. Stubbs, The Acid Rain Foundation, Inc.; Ms. Sonja Whiteside, Buncombe County Schools; Other Contributors... Park staff; Park volunteers; The N.C. Department of Public Instruction; The N.C. Department of Environment and Natural Resources; and the many individuals and agencies who assisted in the review of this publication. 500 copies of this public document were printed at a total cost of $3.362 or $6.72 per copy. (3Printed on recycled paper. 12-97 iv 6 1. Introduction Introduction to the North Carolina State Parks System 1.1 Introduction to Mount Mitchell State Park 1 7 Introduction to the Activity Packet for Mount Mitchell State Park 1.5 2. Activity Summary 1. I Correlation Chart 2.2 3. Pre-Visit Activities #1 Canada Down South 3.1 #2 The Human Tree 3.2 #3 Acid from the Skies 3.3 4. On-Site Activities #1 Meet a Tree 4.1 #2 Mt. Mitchell A Sense of Place 4.2 #3 Planting for Tomorrow 4.3 5. Post-Visit Activities #1 Forest Game 5.1 #7 Forest Stewardship 5.2 '3 Recycle a Forest Leave a Log Alone 5.3 6. Vocabulary 6.1 7. References 7.1 8. Forms 8 1 9. Notes 9. 1 Introductionio the North Carolina State Parks System reserving and protecting The North Carolina State As one of North Carolina's pNorth Carolina's natural Parks System has now been principal conservation resources is actually a established for more than agencies, the Division of relatively new idea. The three quarters of a century. Parks and Recreation is seeds of the conservation What started out as one small responsible for the more than movement were planted plot of public land has grown 144,000 acres that make up early in the 20th century into 59 properties across the our state parks system. The when citizens were alerted state, including parks, Division mana,g_es these to the devastation of Mount resources for the safe Mitchell. Logging was enjoyment of the public and destroying a well-known protects and preserves them landmark the highest as a part of the heritage we peak east of the will pass on to generations to Mississippi. As the come. magnificent forests of this An important component mile-high peak fell to of our stewardship of these the lumbermen's axe, lands is education. Through alarmed citizens began our interpretation and to voice their objections. environmental education Governor Locke Craig services, the Division of joined them in their efforts Parks and Recreation strives to save Mount Mitchell. to offer enlightening Together they convinced programs which lead to an the legislature to pass a bill recreation areas, trails, rivers, understanding and establishing Mount Mitchell lakes and natural areas. This appreciation of our natural as the first state park of vast network of land boasts resources. The goal of our North Carolina. That was in some of the most beautiful environmental education 1915. scenery in the world and program is to generate an offers endless recreation awareness in all individuals opportunities. But our state that cultivates responsible parks system offers much stewardship of the earth. more than scenery and recreation. Our lands and waters contain unique and valuable archaeological, geological and biological resources that are important parts of our natural heritage. For more information contact: N.C. Division of Parks and Recreation P.O. Box 27687 Raleigh, NC 27611-7687 919/ 733-4181 8 Mount Mitchell State Park, N C I .1 December 1997 In the crest of the billion The Park as an provides a wonderful outdoor year old Black Mountain range classroom for learning about lies the summit of Mount Outdoor Classroom history, literature and recre- Mitchell, the highest point east Numerous recreation fac- ation. Students can study and of the Mississippi. This lofty ilities and a variety of educa- learn about these and peak is the focal point of the tional opportunities make other subjects on 1,677 acre Mount Mitchell a visit to Mount - r-- a hands-on basis. State Park. Mitchell a rewarding Groups are Mount Mitchell State Park adventure. The natural encouraged to visit is the oldest state park in the resources of this unique the park during the southeastern United States. It mountainous area open the warmer months of was established in 1915 by door to a world of learning the year for hikes, the North Carolina General and discovery. One of the exploration, nature study and Assembly for the preservation most outstanding natural other activities. Leaders may and protection of the unique features of the park is its high choose to design and conduct spruce-fir forests located there. elevation. Because tempera- their own activities or make The two highest peaks of the ture decreases as altitude use of the park's Environ- eastern United States are increases, the climate of mental Education Learning located within the boundaries Mount Mitchell is similar to Experience