The Palmetto Trail: Linking the Mountains to the Sea Jana Locklair Pine Ridge Middle School jlock794@aol.com Overview Students will be given the opportunity to become familiar with the landform regions of South Carolina through their exploration of the Palmetto Trail. They will map the trail and produce a booklet designed to help those who use the trail. Connection to the Curriculum This unit can fit in a lesson on the physical geography of South Carolina. It also relates to language arts, art, and South Carolina History. South Carolina Social Studies Academic Standards 8-7.2 Provide examples of the expanding role of tourism in South Carolina s economy, including the growth of resorts and development along the coast and the expanding transportation systems that allowed greater access to recreational sites. 8-7.5 Explain the economic impact of twentieth century events on South Carolina, including the opening and closing of military bases, the development of industries, the influx of new citizens, and the expansion of port facilities. Social Studies Literacy Elements F. Ask geographic questions: Where is it located? Why is it there? What is significant about its location? How is its location related to that of other people, places, and environments? G. Make and record observations about the physical and human characteristics of places I. Use maps to observe and interpret geographic information and relationships P. Locate, gather, and process information from a variety of primary and secondary sources including maps Time Three to four fifty-minute class periods Materials South Carolina: An Atlas South Carolina Interactive Geography (SCIG) disc Computer South Carolina State Highway maps (one per group) South Carolina Travel Guides (one per group) Drawing paper Colored pencils/markers Dry erase markers Handouts
Objectives 1. Students will map the approximate location of the Palmetto Trail. 2. Students will determine how much of the trail lies within each landform region of the state. 3. Students will list the counties traveled through by the trail. 4. Students will become familiar with the different attractions located throughout the state. 5. Students will produce a guide designed to help those who visit the Palmetto Trail. Suggested Procedures 1. Ask students to name their favorite spots in the state to visit. Discuss the term ecotourism. 2. Introduce the students to the concept of the Palmetto Trail. 3. Pass out the requirement packet and go over it with the class. 4. Divide the students into groups of at least four members. 5. Pass out one of each of the following to each group: South Carolina: An Atlas, South Carolina Highway Map, dry erase marker, SC Travel Guide. 6. Using their materials, the students will map the approximate location of the trail on the highway map. This needs to be checked for accuracy once it is completed. Do not let the students erase the trail. 7. View a portion of SCIG Physical Systems Physical Processes click on Landform Regions of South Carolina. Students should take notes on the facts about and features found in each of the six landform regions. 8. Show the students a transparency on the six landform regions and lead a discussion about the significance of each section. 9. Groups will use the highway map to divide the state into the landform regions. 10. The groups will estimate how many miles of the trail are found in each landform region. 11. List the counties involved in the route. 12. Each group will name at least four sites to visit from each region and explain the significance of each site. 13. Name two major cities in each landform region that is located near the trail. 14. Students will use their maps, notes, and research to prepare a booklet on the Palmetto Trail. Suggested Evaluation 1. Completion of the trail on the South Carolina Highway Map. 2. Completion of all activities. 3. See Booklet Evaluation Form.
Lesson Extensions 1. Create a trail going through your own landform region. Example The Sandhill Trail. 2. Compare the different ecosystems that lie along the trail. 3. List the pros and cons of building a statewide trail. Why would some people be against the creation of such a trail? 4. Discuss the obstacles in a project of this type. 5. Write a journal entry about spending a day on one section of the trail. 6. List supplies that would be needed. Which ones are the most important and why? 7. What type of problems could arise in the future on the trail? (upkeep, pollution, etc.) 8. Volunteer to help build or maintain one section of the trail. 9. Visit a section of the trail. 10. The Palmetto Trail was named one of 52 national Millennium Legacy Trails. One trail from each state will be selected. Visit the Millennium Trails Web Site. Resources South Carolina: An Atlas and South Carolina Interactive Geography (SCIG) Produced and distributed by the South Carolina Geographic Alliance 1-888-895-2023 www.cas.sc.edu/cege Palmetto Trails 1314 Lincoln Street, Suite 213 Columbia, SC 29201-3154 www.palmettoconservation.org South Carolina Department of Natural Resources 2221 Devine Street, Suite 222 Columbia, SC 29205 Telephone (803) 734-9108 South Carolina Travel Guide, It s Your Life. Fill It Up. SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism 1205 Pendleton Street Columbia, SC 29201 Telephone (803) 734-0129 http://www.prt.state.sc.us/sc South Carolina Highway Map SC Department of Parks, Recreation and Tourism
Palmetto Trail Requirements Group Members The Palmetto Trail is a 425-mile network of trails, which upon completion will link the mountains with the coast of South Carolina. A diversity of historical, cultural, and environmental features will be seen as the route travels through each of the landform regions. A visitor will be able to view both the natural and man-made attractions found in our state. Your group assignment is to complete each of the following activities. 1. Use the directions on Handout 1 to map the approximate path the trail will take. This needs to be completed on the South Carolina Highway Map. A marker will be provided for your group. Task completed.. (Do not erase the trail at this time.) 2. Transfer your route to the handout of Rivers of South Carolina. You will need this later. 3. View a portion of SCIG on the landform regions of South Carolina. Take notes about each of the six regions. 4. On the highway map divide the state into the landform regions. Use page 6 in South Carolina: An Atlas to help you. 5. Estimate the amount of miles of the trail found in each landform region. - Blue Ridge - Piedmont - Sandhills - Inner Coastal Plain - Outer Coastal Plain - Coastal Zone 6. List the counties the trail passes through.
7. Name at least four sites to visit in each landform region. Explain the significance of each of the sites. Write your answers on the next page. Use the travel guide. - Blue Ridge - Piedmont - Sandhills - Inner Coastal - Outer Coastal - Coastal Zone
8. Name at least two major cities in each landform region that are located near the trail. - Blue Ridge - - Piedmont - - Sandhills - - Inner Coastal - - Outer Coastal - - Coastal Zone - 9. Use all the above activities and materials to prepare a booklet on the Palmetto Trail designed to help those who use the trail. The booklet should contain the following: - Title page - Table of Contents - Introduction to each landform region - Information on sites to visit in each landform region - Major cities along the trail - At least one hand-drawn map - Sources used - Credit page who did what
Handout 1 Mapping Directions Use the following directions to show the approximate path the Palmetto Trail will follow. Use the South Carolina Highway Map to help you locate the clues. - Begin at Oconee State Park in Oconee County. - Go east through Table Rock, Caesar s Head, and Jones Gap State Park. - Continue east to Cowpens National Battlefield. - Head south and visit the city of Cowpens. - Continue south to Croft State Park. Travel in a southeasterly direction through the Sumter National Forest making sure you pass through Whitmire. - Continue south to the city of Newberry. - Turn east and cross the Broad River. - Travel southeasterly toward Columbia. The path will cut through Fort Jackson. Head east across the Wateree River. - Turn south into the Manchester State Forest near Sumter. - Go to Rimini. Follow the shoreline of Lake Marion till you reach Interstate 95. Turn southwest. After crossing Lake Marion turn southeast on SC 6. - Follow SC 6 to where it connects with SC 45 northwest of Lake Moultrie. - Use SC 45 to cross the canal between the two lakes. - Follow the shoreline of Lake Moultrie and travel into Francis Marion National Forest. - Travel southeasterly toward Huger. - Go to Awendaw. - Travel southeasterly to Bull Island.
Booklet Evaluation Group Members 1. Content (40 points) 2. Maps (20 points) 3. Illustrations (10 points) 4. Neatness (10 points) 5. Spelling (10 points) 6. Title Page (5 points) 7. Credit Page (5 points) Total Points - Additional Comments:
Background Information The Palmetto Trail will be over 400 miles long upon completion. It will begin at Oconee State Park and will end near Awendaw. The connecting passages will offer visitors a unique view of the history, culture, and geography of the state of South Carolina. The planned trail will run through the counties of Oconee, Pickens, Greenville, Spartanburg, Cherokee, Union, Laurens, Newberry, Fairfield, Richland, Sumter, Clarendon, Orangeburg, Berkley, and Charleston. The Palmetto Trail will travel through all six of the landform regions of South Carolina and offer participants a fantastic opportunity to compare and contrast the physical landforms found throughout the state. The trail is using government owned land as much as possible. At times, the foundation has to rely on the cooperation of private landowners in allowing the trail to run through their property for the purpose of connecting public property. It is taking time to work out all of the agreements. Opened passages include the following: - Blue Wall Passage - Eutaw Passage - Fort Jackson Passage - High Hills of the Santee Passage - Lake Moultrie Passage - Lynch s Woods Park - Sumter Passage - Swamp Fox Passage Passages under construction: - Wateree Passage - Santee Passage - Lake Marion Passage - Sumter II Passage